In a nationwide contest designed to challenge students to illustrate their visions of peace, diversity and concern for others, three Hillel Academy in Tampa (www.hillelacademytampa.com) students took top honors–the only students in Florida to receive such recognition.
The National Liberty Museum’s Caretoons Contest was created in 2005 after a Danish newspaper published a cartoon which inspired violence. To channel this powerful art form for a positive purpose, each year the Museum invites the public to create cartoons that express their personal visions of peace, diversity and concern for others.
This year’s Caretoons theme was “Building Bridges.”
Winning Caretoon from Hillel students Aidan Gonzalez and Sophia Perez.
Fifth graders Aidan Gonzalez and Sophia Perez were among the finalists who received honorable mention for their collaborative Caretoon.
Third grader Zev Huneycutt was among three runners-up for first place. There was only ONE student winner so being a runner up is significant.
“We are so proud of the students,” says Amy Wasser, Hillel Academy’s head of school. “This is just incredible. And for them to be the only students in the state to get the recognition makes it doubly amazing.”
Hillel Academy is a private Jewish Community Day School in the Tampa Bay area, accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council and a member of the Jewish Community Day School Network.
(Visit Hillel Academy in Tampa)
The Tampa private school embraces all of the wonderfully diverse aspects of the rich culture and traditions of Judaism. The school takes pride in delivering a superior education enhanced by the opportunity to learn a second language beginning in Transitional Kindergarten, with a third language introduced in middle school.
The challenge was to create a Caretoon that illustrates some of the ways we can “build bridges” across the things that might divide us, i.e. religion, language, age or nationality.
Creativity and thoughtfulness were important criteria for the panel of judges.
Caretoon from Hillel third grader Zev Huneycutt was among three runners-up for first place.
Caretoon and selection of winners
From over 500 Caretoons received from around the world, the museum staff of the National Liberty Museum selected 48 finalists from across all categories that best responded to the theme while considering the criteria of originality, clarity of message, and aesthetic appeal. Those 48 finalists then went before a panel of judges made up of members of the public, who were asked to view the Caretoons for the first time, keeping in mind the selection criteria.
The panel used a secret ballot process to select one winner and several runners-up in each adult and student category. However, even at the conclusion of this rigorous process, there were a few Caretoons that had not been selected that the museum’s curatorial and education staff felt were simply too good not to include in our exhibit. Those works were given the Honorable Mention distinction.
The Hillel students Caretoons will be included in the new Caretoons exhibit that will be on display throughout 2014 at the National Liberty Museum, in Philadelphia, Penn.
“The works by Hillel Academy students will become part of educational tours and countless students from across the country will see them and talk about the wonderful ideas they convey,” says Wasser.
CONTACT:
Amy Wasser
Hillel Academy of Tampa
813.963.2242
www.hillelacademytampa.com
SOURCE: Hillel Academy Tampa
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