The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124 in Niagara-on-the-Lake presented awards Monday to students at St. Michael Catholic Elementary School and Royal Oak School for artwork and writing created to honour Remembrance Day.
Students submitted their work on Remembrance Day. A panel of three Legion judges — David Antscherl, Penny-Lynn Cookson and Gail Kerr — selected the winners. Students completed all artwork by hand and were not allowed to use computers.
Amelia Walton won first place in the Grade 8 colour poster category for her depiction of the National War Memorial in Ottawa. She said her grandfather and uncle both served in the armed forces.
Her grandfather worked as a military reporter, and her uncle fought wildfires in Los Angeles and took part in the procession following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, she said.
“I would say I’ve grown up with that stuff,” she said. “I’ve heard so many different stories.”
Walton said one of her “dream jobs” is to work in forensics.
Stan Harrington, chair of the Legion’s youth and education committee, said judges were impressed by both the quality of the submissions and the students’ reverence for veterans.
He recalled a Grade 7 student from Royal Oak School suggesting a moment of silence while visiting graves.
“I think we need to take a minute of silence,” she said.
“It got me a little choked up,” Harrington said.
Awards for St. Davids Public School will be presented at a later date, Harrington said. Crossroads Public School did not participate this year.
First-place winners received $15, second place $10 and third place $5. First-place recipients also received a pin, and all winners were given certificates.
Some first-place entries will advance to the Legion’s zone competition, which includes submissions from multiple branches. Winners at that level may move on to district competitions across larger areas of Ontario, followed by a provincial contest and then the national level.
Lori Beak, a member of the committee, said zone and district competitions will take place over the next couple of months.
Royal Oak School winners:
Grade 1 Colour Poster — Third: Reuben Vona; Second: Katherine Urquhart; First: Alayna Hammad
Grade 2 Colour Poster — Third: Nikola Fagerlund; Second: Stephane Aubin; First: Laya Moodley
Grade 3 Colour Poster — Third: Gwenyth New; Second: Merritt Hawley; First: Hannah Ridesic (zone entrant)
Grade 4 Black and White Poster — First: Lias Badr
Grade 4 Colour Poster — Third: Elise Walton; Second: Scarlett Hermoza; First: Evan Kibbee
Grade 5 Black and White Poster — First: Xavier Nabico
Grade 5 Colour Poster — Third: Robert Murray; Second: Jack Finlay; First: Emilia Billard
Grade 6 Colour Poster — First: Seran Khan
Grade 8 Colour Poster — First: Amelia Walton
St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School winners:
Grade 1 Colour Poster — Third: Harley Haggerty; Second: Scarlett L’Ortye; First: Colton Dyer
Grade 2 Black and White Poster — Third: Gabriel Cruz; Second: Isaac Mendoza; First: Daniel Dernz
Grade 2 Colour Poster — Third: Samuel Abel; Second: Giacomo Kanzlaric; First: Axl Benner
Grade 3 Black and White Poster — Third: Hunter Konopka; Second: Louie Boychuk; First: Emilia Lanyon (zone entrant)
Grade 3 Colour Poster — Third: Katerina L’Ortye; Second: Liam Sanderson; First: Leoni Tempelaars
Grade 4 Black and White Poster — Third: Connor Kritzer; Second: Christopher Treanor; First: Sophia Treanor
Grade 4 Colour Poster — Third: Aiya Avanesov; Second: Jordan Palo Sheldon; First: Auston Cwiertniewski
Grade 4 Poem — Third: Thomas-James Gauld; Second: Sophia Treanor; First: Victoria Kane
Grade 5 Black and White Poster — Third: Elliana Malachowsky; Second: Jodi Mitchinson; First: Landon Pagnotta
Grade 5 Colour Poster — Third: Violet Serniak; Second: Kurt Quinones; First: Mila Treanor
Grade 5 Poem — Third: Lara Martins Dutra; Second: Leyla Barlow; First: Violet Serniak
Grade 6 Black and White Poster — Third: Miguel Cruz; Second: Isaiah Hellewell; First: Dean Pagnotta (zone entrant)
Grade 6 Colour Poster — Third: Scarlett-Gilbert-Stones; Second: Gemma Fratangelo; First: Michael Kamatovic (zone entrant)
Grade 6 Essay — Third: Stephanie Wassilko; Second: Regan Doyle; First: Dean Pagnotta (zone entrant)
Grade 6 Poem — Third: Regan Doyle; Second: Micah deSouza; First: Lucy Collins
Grade 7 Black and White Poster — Third: Sophie Wassilko; Second: Kaye Quinones; First: Emmie Cherney
Grade 7 Colour Poster — Third: Emilia Epp; Second: Christian DaCosta; First: Alexandra Marinis
Grade 7 Poem — Third: Valentina McPherson; Second: Emmie Cherney; First: Ben Contino
Grade 8 Black and White Poster — Third: Michael Collins; Second: Jaxon Barlow; First: Mariam Tom
Grade 8 Colour Poster — Third: Rory Smythe; Second: Andrew Nolan; First: Sienna deSouza
Grade 8 Essay — Third: Helena Kane; Second: Varvara Nedukha; First: Mariam Tom (zone entrant)
Grade 8 Poem — Third: Mariam Tom; Second: Varvara Nedukha; First: Ava Pontsioen (zone entrant)
