Children of Montgomery County Learn Conflict Resolution Through Bookmark Contest

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Inc. (DRC-MC) hosted an awards ceremony on April 21, 2022, for the winners of the 2022 Conflict Resolution Bookmark Art Contest.

The Conflict Resolution Bookmark Art Contest is sponsored by the DRC-MC for Montgomery County students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The students’ original art work, which is the size and shape of a bookmark, is judged based on creativity and message. The subject matter must reflect a conflict resolution or prevention theme, such as peer mediation, anti-bullying, talking things out, apologizing, respecting differences, listening, tolerance, solving problems together, peace building, and alternatives to violence. The 2022 winners were selected from over eight hundred student submissions from across Montgomery County.

The winners, their families, and their teachers were invited to attend the ceremony at Madera Estates in Conroe to receive their awards. The awards, which included cash prizes for the students and anti-bullying books for the schools, were presented by Judge Kathleen Hamilton and members of the Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2022. The winners, their teachers, and Judge Hamilton were photographed with the “Wings of Peace,” an art piece created by the LMC Class of 2022 utilizing bookmark entries submitted by Montgomery County students in the 2018 and 2019 Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Art Contests.

“The DRC-MC is pleased to resume the Conflict Resolution Bookmark Art Contest this year after a brief pause due to the pandemic. This Contest gives students and their teachers an opportunity to discuss difficult topics such as bullying and conflict resolution in a fun and creative manner. Student peacebuilding messages are then shared with the community through laminated bookmarks distributed at public places or in pieces of public art created from the bookmark entries. The DRC-MC is extremely grateful to the LMC Class of 2022 for all of their hard work and generosity in making the 2022 Conflict Resolution Bookmark Art Contest, the awards ceremony, and the Wings of Peace possible,” said Elaine Roberts, Executive Director of the DRC-MC.

The 2022 Conflict Resolution Bookmark Art Contest Winners celebrated at the awards ceremony:

Level 1- Grades K-2
Grade Kindergarten Winners
First Prize: Landon Domingeaux, Magnolia Parkway Elementary, Teacher = Kelly Day (Art) and Dawn Garcia (Homeroom)
Second Prize: Sefir Ruiz, Creighton Elementary, Teacher = Analisya E. Ramos-Coleman (Homeroom) and Emily S. Rodriguez (Art)

Grade 1 Winners
First Prize: Ibrahim Chaparro Matute, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, Teacher = Suzanne Ettman
Second Prize: Kamiye Amodu, The Woodlands Christian Academy, Teacher = Lacy Goedeke
Third Prize: Elijah Marez, The Woodlands Christian Academy, Teacher = Lacy Goedeke
Honorable Mention: Hailey Minter, The Woodlands Christian Academy, Teacher = Lacy Goedeke

Grade 2 Winners
First Prize: Dania Aguirre, Sam Houston Elementary, Teacher = Joseph D. Rodriguez
Second Prize: Oscar Martinez, Sam Houston Elementary, Teacher = Joseph D. Rodriguez
Third Prize: Catherine van der Kloet, The Woodlands Christian Academy, Teacher = Lacy Goedeke
Honorable Mention: Vienna Hess, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, Teacher = Suzanne Ettman

Level 2 – Grades 3-5
Grade 3 Winners
First Prize: Stefan Scheepers, Keenan Elementary, Teachers = Amy Suttles (Art) and Heather Brown (Homeroom)
Second Prize: Juleona Armendariz, San Jacinto Elementary, Teacher = Gretchen Willey
Third Prize: Nahelyn Alcocer, San Jacinto Elementary, Teacher = Gretchen Willey
Honorable Mention: Troi Barton, The Woodlands Methodist School, Teacher = Shelly VanBenthuysen

Grade 4 Winners
First Prize: George Garner, The John Cooper School, Teacher = Amy Dietrich (Art) and Linda Donald (Counselor)
Second Prize: Morgan Aguilar, Snyder Elementary, Teacher = Deanna Wesner
Third Prize: John Klein, The Woodlands Methodist School, Teacher = Shelly VanBenthuysen
Honorable Mention: Charlotte Murphy, The Woodlands Methodist School, Teacher = Shelly VanBenthuysen

Grade 5 Winners
First Prize: Katelynn McKinney, Bear Branch Intermediate, Teacher = Jessica McKinney
Second Prize: Lindsey Lozano, Travis Intermediate, Teacher = Toni Sommers
Third Prize: Valeria Salazar, Travis Intermediate, Teacher = Toni Sommers
Honorable Mention: Ally Alfonso, Bens Branch Elementary, Teacher = Mary Blanco

Level 3 – Grades 6-8
Grade 6 Winners
First Prize: Brynna Benson, Bear Branch Intermediate, Teacher = Jessica McKinney
Second Prize: Sydney Oosthuizen, Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy, Teacher = Sue Kologinczak
Third Prize: Tessa Vlasak, Clark Intermediate, Teacher = Faith Hoisager (Art) and Sharon Bailey (Homeroom)
Honorable Mention (Tie): Wesley Anders, Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy, Teacher = Sue Kologinczak; Scarlet Shively, Clark Intermediate School, Teacher = Faith Hoisager (Art) and Kristopher Hodgins (Homeroom)

Grade 7 Winners
First Prize: Leah Griffin, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford
Second Prize: Sophia Chin, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Dara Owen
Third Prize: Alayah Williams, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford
Honorable Mention (Tie): Georgia Dorsett, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford; Mia Ruffino, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Dara Owen

Grade 8 Winners
First Prize: Jaedyn Chatman, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford
Second Prize: Iris Shen, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford
Third Prize: Ava Dickert, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford
Honorable Mention (Tie): Ella Graham, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford; Olivia Theis, McCullough Jr. High, Teacher = Roberta Willeford

The Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Inc. (DRC-MC) is a non-profit organization that provides and promotes affordable, high-quality dispute resolution services and training to the Montgomery County area. The DRC-MC has been helping people with difficult conversations since 1988. For additional information on DRC-MC programs and services, or to order copies of ten 2022 Bookmark Art Contest winning bookmarks, go to www.resolution-center.org or call (936) 760-6914.

Leadership Montgomery County (LMC) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to developing and enhancing current and future leaders of Montgomery County. The mission of LMC is to prepare emerging and existing leaders to understand local issues, grow their leadership skills and connect with others to better serve Montgomery County. For more information, go to www.lmctx.org or call (832)248-1116.

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