This story has been updated.
By Dean Hesse, contributor
Avondale Estates, GA — On Saturday, March 5, the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice held an awards reception for the winning entries of its second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest. The theme was “Black Empowerment through Wellness: Strengthening Mind, Body and Spirit.”
The contest was open to all elementary through high school students age 5-19 who live in Avondale Estates or attend Avondale Elementary, DeKalb School of the Arts Elementary and High School, the Waldorf School and the Friends School. Winners received cash prizes. The reception was held at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor where the winning entries were on display the week before the reception.
The 2022 AARJ Student Black History Month Art Contest winners are:
Elementary School Ages 5-8
1st Place – Kyle Miller-Dotson – DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts
2nd Place – Stephen Wu – The Museum School
3rd Place – Cameron Hubbard – Avondale Elementary School
AARJ Pick – Jordyn Moreland – The Museum School
Elementary School Ages 9-11
1st Place – MaNiyla Cameron, Avondale Elementary School
2nd Place – Synora Lane – The Museum School
3rd Place – Mohamed Cisse – Avondale Elementary School
AARJ Pick – Madisyn Timmons – DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts
AARJ Pick – Cameron Blackmon – DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts
Middle School
1st Place – Cai Chee Wah – DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts
2nd Place – Henry Blackmon IV – DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts
High School
1st Place – Aubrey Jordan-Yarbrough, DeKalb School of the Arts
2nd Place – Kendyl Burse – DeKalb School of the Arts
3rd Place – Macie White – DeKalb School of the Arts
AARJ Pick – Alyssa Tatum – DeKalb School of the Arts
Singer/songwriter and visual artist Dia Scott performs during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Three-year-old Whitley Howell came out with family to support her sister Alyssa Tatum whose entry won the High School AARJ Pick award during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Avondale Estates Commissioner Lionel Laratte attends the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Multi-genre writer Bernette Sherman emcees the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Darci Smith and her sons Major. 8, on left and 10-year-old artist Mason on right, attend the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
MaNiyla Cameron, on left, and her mother Kendra Smith react while Dia Scott sings during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Kyle Miller-Dotson, 8, accepts the first-place Elementary School ages 5-8 award for his art titled “Mosaic of Power” from judge Denise Gunter during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
MaNiyla Cameron holds her first-place winning entry in the Elementary School ages 9-11 category during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Members of AARJ watch as awards are presented during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Cai Chee Wah holds her art titled “Empowered” that won first-place in the Middle School category during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Family members applaud during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Alyssa Tatum’s “Uprise,” on left, won the AARJ Pick in the High School category. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Sarah Galatioto-Ruff, a founding member of AARJ and Latin teacher at DeKalb School of the Arts presents Aubrey Jordan-Yarbrough with the first-place award in the High School category for Aubry’s work titled “Wall of Inspiration” during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Kendyl Burse holds her second-place winner in the High School category titled “Embrace” during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Macie White accepts her third-place award in the High School category for “Connected” from AARJ leader Sarah Galatioto-Ruff during the Avondale Alliance for Racial Justice second annual Student Black History Month Art Contest awards reception at Finders Keepers Furniture and Décor on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
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