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The work of two young artists was recognized for conveying the message of world peace.

The Aiken Lions Club honored two local students Tuesday for their submissions to the club’s annual poster contest, and named a chapter member the Dr. Franklin G. Mason Fellow for her work on vision screening in local schools. 

The theme of this year’s poster contest was Lead with Compassion. New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School student Katie Raynor and Paul Knox Middle School student Eloise Hewitt had the winning posters.  

Raynor said her poster was inspired by peace workers such as nurses, firefighters and teachers. She  said the tree in her poster represents growth as a community, while the hands holding the flag represent the different local cultures .

“I hope that everyone can be equal and see how important our peace workers are for our community,” Raynor said.

Raynor also won at the district and state levels and was honored in North Charleston and Florence, respectively.

Hewitt said art is her passion and her poster was inspired by compassion  and featured butterflies, flags and trees coming together as one.

“I hope they can see the world can kind of be like one person and they don’t have to be separated at all,” Hewitt said. “We might have different opinions, but we are kind of like one together.”

The peace poster contest started in 1988 to give young people around the world an outlet to express their feelings through creative means. The contest is open to children ages 11-13 in local schools, or through sponsored youth groups like Boy Scouts of America and the Boys and Girls Club.

Paul Knox and New Ellenton middle schools were sponsored by the club. 

Aiken Lions Club member Susan Selden, who received the fellow award, said she was glad she could help children with their vision needs.

“I was totally surprised and very delighted to win this award,” she said. “This is a huge award in the Lions Club and I am excited to have it.”

**Article and photo from the Aiken Standard**