www.roanoke.com

Jaelen Claytor and Zeb Camper, 11 year old 6th grade students at Read Mountain and Central Academy Middle Schools respectively, have taken the first step to becoming internationally recognized artists by winning local competitions sponsored by the Troutville Lions Club.
The posters drawn by Claytor and Camper were among more than 375,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 21st annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
The winning posters were selected by a panel of judges from their schools for originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, "Peace Begins with Me". The judging at the schools was held in October under the supervision of Susanne Sellars and Mark Woodie, art teachers at Read Mountain and Central Academy.
Two students at each school were cited for honorable mention. They are Elizabeth Kennedy and Molly Cook at Read Mountain and McKensie Talbott and Raven Carden at Central Academy.
Troutville Lions Club President Sage Bassett said he was impressed by the continued high quality of the winning posters at Central Academy and Read Mountain Middle Schools. "The work of these young students represents their outlook and vision about seeking world peace. The Troutville Lions Club is proud of them and the fact that we were able to provide them with a program through which they can share their vision with others."
"Claytor's and Campbell's posters will advance through the district, multiple district and international rounds of competition they must win if they are to be declared the international grand prize winner. Three years ago one of our winners also won at the district 24-E level and advanced to multiple district competition" Bassett said.
One grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $2,500, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to New York City for the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.
Locally, Claytor and Camper and honorable mention winners Kennedy, Cook, Talbott, and Carden will be honored at PTA evening assemblies at their respective schools on December 8th. The winners will each receive a $100 US Savings Bond and a framed certificate. A $50 US Savings Bond and framed certificate will be awarded to the four honorable mention students. The bonds were donated by the Bank of Botetourt, Bank of Fincastle, and Dominion Accounting and Tax Services. Past international grand prize winners can be viewed at http://www.lionsclubs.org/.