William Floyd High School junior Payton Kurosz was recently selected as the overall winner for her grade level in the Shanti Fund’s “Peace Artworks” poster contest. For her efforts, Kurosz received a cash prize of $501, and her work will be included in the annual Shanti Fund Peace calendar.

“My artwork conveys the effects of the industrialization on Mother Nature,” said Kurosz describing her award-winning artwork. “Using colored pencil, I drew Mother Nature in the center of the piece; her hair connects to the world and its resources. Both sides of the piece have people on either side, one watering and maintaining the Earth, the other has a person cutting her hair, symbolizing using up resources.”

Kurosz noted that the contrasting use of bright colors versus black and white shows the innovative ways to use nature (electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines) while also demonstrating the effects of industrialization with smoke stacks and truck exhaust. “I ‘collaged’ the words onto her body indicating what will happen to our future if we continue to pollute and destroy; the flowers show us the blossoming and prosperous future we could have,” Kurosz added.

Honorable Mentions
A'Nyiah Jasper, a sixth-grade student at William Paca Middle School, and Benjamin Diaz Acosta, a seventh-grade student at William Floyd Middle School, both received honorable mentions for their submissions.

Congratulations!