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KEMPER MEMORIAL PARK AWARDS
CEREMONY
On Thursday, May
26, four Mamaroneck High School students were each awarded $250
for their entries in the Kemper Memorial Park Contest. The
contest was conducted by the Social Studies Department at
Mamaroneck High School and the awards were sponsored by the
Kemper Memorial Park Preservation Fund.
Students were
asked to respond to the question "Why are war memorials
important today?" The question was prompted by former Secretary
of State Colin Powell's statement, “Take the time to remember
the good souls whose memories are a blessing to you and your
family. Take your children to our memorial parks and monuments.”
Students were
encouraged to respond in a variety of formats: essays, poems,
short films, visual art projects or musical compositions. Over
fifty submissions were entered and of these, the four best were
chosen. At the Awards Ceremony, Tricia Ballard and Helene Graham
displayed their winning art works. Tricia’s drawing showed the
link between the students in the school hallways and the
soldiers marching off to war. She wanted to emphasize the idea
that the high school itself is a monument to the students’
sacrifice. Helene’s drawing had two parts: one of today’s
students and the other of yesterday’s students in the trenches
during World War II. Emily Morris accompanied herself on the
guitar as she sang her composition, “Surrender” (inspired by her
visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) and Alia Shenasa read
her poem, “Tempo”, about the loved one who was left behind.
(Click here to read her
poem)
Honorable
mentions included an essay by Angel Athill, a Triptych oil
painting depicting the different stages in the life of a soldier
by Emily Shen and portraits of the 101 honored at the Kemper
Park by Kevin Sejdiu.
Mary Cronin,
former MHS Social Studies teacher and Vice-President of the
Kemper Memorial Park Preservation Fund, commented, “The
quality of the work was so outstanding that it was very
difficult to choose. It is, however, a good problem to have. It
means that we are the beneficiaries of so much talent and all we
have to do is give them an opportunity to shine.” It is hoped
that there will be even more submissions in next year’s contest.
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