Andy Manuel Suarez, an eighth-grade student at Miami Lakes Middle School, won the Miami Lakes Lions Club’s District Peace Poster contest for 2014.
The theme of the contest was “Peace, Love and Understanding,” with each poster judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of the theme.
The local contest announced three winners, who were selected last month at Miami Dade College.
Suarez’s work was submitted by Miami Lakes Lion Club chairwoman Elaine Tidwell.
Suarez received a certificate and was awarded a check of $300 and will go on to compete with three districts for the state’s top prize and hopefully advance to the international competition for a grand prize of $5,000.
The art contest for kids, ages 11 through 13 from local schools and youth groups, encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace.
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“I actually see that some families are being destroyed because they don’t love each other,” he said. “There are so many problems in the house and family members are screaming at each other. The first thing that popped up in my mind when the contest was announced was imagining people who love music and art and I decided to combine them for my artwork.”
Unlike the other contestants, Suarez only had one day to complete his peace poster work because he learned about the contest two days before the deadline entry. With no school the following day, he spent all day finishing his poster for the contest.
“My art teacher, Irene Albalat, loved it,” he said.
As the state competition begins next week, Suarez said he’s nervous but believes he can win.