September 2022 Winners
Please see awards in six groups: Hope and Justice September’s monthly prompt “Find Your Anchor”, in film, art and written works.
Hope and Justice – Written Works
“She”
First Place Hope and Justice - Written Works
Artist: Adrian Valentine
Marin County
Grade: 9
Novato High School
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
My piece is a reflection, a part of myself. It’s a memoir told in third person, about how I overcame my trauma and found the beauty in life.
A Mirror Worth Your Life
Second Place Hope and Justice - Written Works
Artist: Hope Greenleaf
Marin County
Grade: 10
Novato High School
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
My piece is about some of the struggles that me and countless other trans people experience on a daily basis. It belongs in the justice section of the writing challenge because I am writing about issues that pertain to our society and social justice issues. This poem is my way of bringing light to some of...
Fighters
Third Place Hope and Justice - Written Works
Artist: Sofia Spinella
Marin County
Grade: 9
Novato High School
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
My entry relates back to the required submission criteria of hope, as I talk about towards the end of the poem my hope for the next generation, and how I want the standards of society towards girls and women to be changed. A description of my piece is: My poem dives deeply right into the raw...
Glimmer and Shine
Honorable Mention Hope and Justice - Written Works
Artist: Story Hadfield
Marin County
Grade: 9
Novato High School
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
I chose the category Hope because it is one that I have a lot of experience with. My sister is two years older than me and one year sober from opioids. Writing about addiction comes fairly naturally to me; and I think that's because I watched her struggle for so many years. I want other kids...
Role Model
Honorable Mention Hope and Justice - Written Works
Artist: Biana Toussaint
Marin County
Grade: 9
Novato High School
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
This story brings me back to elementary school. With all the discussion about how teachers are being treated by parents and administrators, I wanted to try and see the perspective of a school environment as a teacher and what struggles they face. I have had a love for learning since kindergarten and that would have never...
Hope and Justice – Art and Music
Stop Asian Hate
Honorable Mention Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Ky Nguyen
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Ky Nguyen
My artwork shows a group of Asians protesting to get justice for them, you can see in the middle picture I have a picture frame of a woman, she is Michelle Go, a victim of racism, as well as anti-Asian hatred, she has pushed down the tracks of the New York subway. I drew her because...
Cracks of Boundary
Honorable Mention Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Kolb
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 10
Claremont High School
Advisor: Kolb
In this artwork, I aspire to instill a feeling of hope; as although the figure is presented with limited categories to force themself into, they still chose to be themself. I dually aim that this instills hope amongst those who have been faced with a similar scerio, who feel alone in their struggles. I hope those...
Why We Fight
First Place Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Kaylani Raxajack
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Kaylani Raxajack
My entry is about the recent overturning of Roe V. Wade. On the canvas, there is a television playing a news coverage of a protest fighting against the overturning. The people protesting look upset and are all holding signs with pro-choice designs. There is a woman intently watching the screen looking slightly unkempt with bandages. This...
Why We Fight
First Place Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Kaylani Raxajack
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
My entry is about the recent overturning of Roe V. Wade. On the canvas, there is a television playing a news coverage of a protest fighting against the overturning. The people protesting look upset and are all holding signs with pro-choice designs. There is a woman intently watching the screen looking slightly unkempt with bandages. This...
Cracks of Boundary
Honorable Mention Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Kolb
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 10
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
In this artwork, I aspire to instill a feeling of hope; as although the figure is presented with limited categories to force themself into, they still chose to be themself. I dually aim that this instills hope amongst those who have been faced with a similar scenario, who feel alone in their struggles. I hope those...
Never Too Late
Artist: Ashley Pei
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Ashley Pei
A watercolor piece about the mental health of soldiers and veterans.
The Harvard Computers – Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Third Place Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Madeleine Leavitt
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Madeleine Leavitt
My entry depicts a group of women known as the “Harvard Computers” who worked at the Harvard Observatory for a man med Edward Charles Pickering. In 1877, Pickering became the director of the Harvard Observatory during a time of great technological advancement, increasing the prevalence of photography, and subsequently the astrological data available to interpret. Pickering,...
Hope bares fruit as a team
Second Place Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Jasmine Dominguez
Orange County
Grade: 11
Magnolia Science Academy-Santa Ana
Advisor: Sunny Jung
This idea goes way back to when I was in a bad state of mind. I was not in a good position to do anything because of my mentality. Everything felt like it was crumbling and then one day I bumped into a family member watching the news. As I looked up at the television I...
The Harvard Computers- Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Third Place Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Madeleine Leavitt
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
My entry depicts a group of women known as the “Harvard Computers” who worked at the Harvard Observatory for a man named Edward Charles Pickering. In 1877, Pickering became the director of the Harvard Observatory during a time of great technological advancement, increasing the prevalence of photography, and subsequently the astrological data available to interpret. Pickering,...
Stop Asian Hate
Honorable Mention Hope and Justice Art
Artist: Ky Nguyen
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 12
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
My artwork shows a group of Asians protesting to get justice for them, you can see in the middle picture I have a picture frame of a woman, she is Michelle Go, a victim of racism, as well as anti-Asian hatred, she has pushed down the tracks of the New York subway. I drew her because...
Monthly Prompt – Written Works
Broken Seashells
First Place Monthly Prompt - Written Works
Artist: Aaron Romero
Kern County
Grade: 12
Career Technical Education Center
Advisor: Lisa Krch
My poem is an example of how many of us go through extremely difficult times and continue to have the question, “Why should we go on? What is holding me here?” And I wanted to show through my poem that we are our own anchor even if we do not feel like we are.
Lonely Skies
Second Place Monthly Prompt - Written Works
Artist: Chelsea Reyes
Marin County
Grade: 10
Novato High School
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
My entry is about someone who feels lost in their own negativity and self-hate. Most of this stems from their fear of people and their expectations of who you should be as a person. This makes them feel like they’ll never be worth enough, and what’s worse is no one out there seems to be able...
Take Life One Word At A Time
Third Place Monthly Prompt - Written Works
Artist: Courtlyn Lloyd
Orange County
Grade: 10
El Toro High School
Advisor: Jonelle Bright
My entry is about journaling, and the positive impacts it can have on someone. Journaling is a very useful coping strategy, and in doing it you can creative positive and healthy habits for yourself. Everyone needs an outlet and an anchor to get through the bad times, and journaling my feelings and thoughts is mine. It...
not me
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt- Written Works
Artist: Angel Rodriguez
Riverside County
Grade: 9
Indio high school
Advisor: Margaret Rodriguez
My submission is a poem about reading, reading has always helped me ever since I can remember. Using my head and imagination for reading helps me get out of any thoughts I don't want to be listening to. I believe everyone should have a happy place and I want to inspire people to look for their...
What Music Can Do
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt- Written Works
Artist: Valeria Gurrola
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My entry is a poem that explains my mental state before and after music and the positive impact it can have on someones life. During the start of my poem, I wrote about not being in the best state of mind mentally and losing hope trying to seek out a coping mechanism. Then by the end...
Monthly Prompt – High School Art
Runner
First Place Monthly Prompt - High School Art
Artist: Simon Rockwell
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 10
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
With this piece, my goal was to show a runner escaping a cluster of chaotic things. Running has been my “anchor” over the past few months, so I decided to have the person running away from the sort of nonsensical, disorganized madness that, without an anchor, can really leave people detached from what matters. I painted...
Disco Snail
Second Place Monthly Prompt - High School Art
Artist: Grace Machala
San Luis Obispo County
Grade: 10
Nipomo High School
Advisor: Kelly Sutherland
My entry is a hand sewn plushy of a beige snail. it has a zipper embedded in its muted jade green shell which hides a colorful florescent pocket of life within. My submission is about how hand sewing helps me to refocus and anchor myself back down to the earth whenever I get overwhelmed or stressed....
Feeling the Melody
Third Place Monthly Prompt - High School Art
Artist: Audrey Hills
Riverside County
Grade: 10
Palm Desert High School
Advisor: Rebecca Lopez
When I saw the "Find your Anchor" monthly prompt, I thought about how much I enjoyed listening to music when I felt down. I thought of the song "Sunday Best" by Surfaces and drew how I felt when listening to that song. I ended up with a sunny background with music notes around my character. In...
Light in the Dark
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - High School Art
Artist: Bayley Cantieri
San Luis Obispo County
Grade: 9
Nipomo High School
Advisor: Kelly Sutherland
In this piece music is my anchor. Intricate melodies help me find the light when I feel stuck in the dark. Music gives me hope. Hope that whatever problem I am facing will soon be resolved. That is why I have chosen music as my anchor.
Recovering
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - High School Art
Artist: Lindsay Chung
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 11
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
My painting “Recovering” is about my anchor. Last year after coming back to school and getting involved with several school activities, I had some problems with mental health- overthinking stuff, getting pressured, not managing my time wisely- so I had to find a way to go back and make an anchor. As I was working on...
Monthly Prompt – Middle School Art
Feeling my Happiest
First Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School Art
Artist: Natyeli Lujano
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My entry/drawing shows me hanging out with my friends. When I hang out with my friends I truly do feel my happiest. I feel that this relates back to the required content submission criteria, also known as the what anchors you prompt because the photo represents me leaving all my troubles behind and focusing on the...
My Supporters and Activities that Anchor me
Second Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School Art
Artist: Lily Ann Orozco
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My digital drawing shows my anchors. It's me listing to music while holding up a picture that I drew. Also, my mom and her boyfriend are behind me, supporting me.
Summer the German Shepherd
Third Place - Tied Monthly Prompt - Middle School Art
Artist: Alexis Alvarez
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
A small description about my submission is actually my 6 month female German shepherd named summer. My submission relates back to the required content submission criteria because summer my German shepherd is someone who anchors me when I am stressed or have anxiety. For example, when I get home from school knowing I have to do...
Music Scribble
Third Place - Tied Monthly Prompt - Middle School Art
Artist: Erika Cervantes
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My drawing is about how my house gets loud,plus my head turns into a storm of scribble and all I think of is WHY!.Then I put on my head phones and the loud sounds of my house get blocked and I got back studying and listen to the song call zero by anna tsuchiya. The music...
Love is Music
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Middle School Art
Artist: Stacy Tapia
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My drawing is me with headphones on and music notes around me, and in the background I drew scribbles with darkness but the darkness is not entering my area. The reason I drew this is to represent music protecting me from the darkness which is problems and stress. When I was drawing this I wanted to...
Find Your Anchor – FAMILY IS kEY
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Middle School Art
Artist: Lyric Lett
Los Angeles County
Grade: 7
Desert Willow Magnet Academy
Advisor: Amanda Davis
Desert Willow students wanted to bring awareness to suicide prevention
Monthly Prompt Tiktok Challenge
Friends
First Place September Monthly Prompt TikTok Challenge
Artist: Sinnia Alcantar
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My entry is about my friends and how I enjoy hanging out with them. My submission relates back to the required content because my video shows my anchor.
The Feeling of Finding Your Anchor
Honorable Mention September Monthly Prompt TikTok Challenge
Artist: Yareli Lares
Kern County
Grade: 11
Career Technical Education Center
Advisor: Lisa Krch
My submission shows what life is like when you find yourself living in the moment instead of worrying about the before and after, your purpose, and the little things that keep you going. Imagine having scenes of your life play back right in front of you, and you suddenly reminisce all that is good. All the...
Future of boxing
Honorable Mention September Monthly Prompt TikTok Challenge
Artist: Allen Higuera
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
My submission is a short video mainly about boxing and why it anchors me in so many ways. I talked about why I love the sport of boxing a lot.
What’s Your Anchor?
Honorable Mention September Monthly Prompt TikTok Challenge
Artist: Ameerah Chatman
Kern County
Grade: 12
Career Technical Education Center
Advisor: Lisa Krch
Our entry was about how finding you anchor could the little things in life, you just have to find them. This relates to the required content because it is a 30 second titkok representing to find your anchor
A helping hand
Honorable Mention September Monthly Prompt TikTok Challenge
Artist: Esteban Juarez
Kern County
Grade: 11
Career Technical Education Center
Advisor: Lisa Krch
Our entry is a psa style video that demonstrates, when someone is feeling down friends or family will be there to help you up.
Monthly Prompt Film and Music
Go Find Your Anchor
First Place Monthly Prompt - Film and Music
Artist: Martin Acevedo, Deangelo Fisher, and Dennis Paclijan
Kern County
Grade: 12
Career Technical Educational Career
Advisor: Lisa Krch
We focused the short song around the topic of "Finding Your Anchor" and through all the complications and hardships, we got it done. This is our product, imperfections and all.
My Anchor is Hope
Second Place Monthly Prompt - Film and Music
Artist: Neriah Tarver
San Bernardino County
Grade: 9
Sage Oak Charter Schools
Advisor: Jessica Perri
Many feel that there is no hope in the future, and that they can't find an anchor for themselves. I just want to share that there is a hope, and many might find my source of hope unexpected, but I know it's true.
Two sides to every story
Third Place Monthly Prompt - Film and Music
Artist: Jacob Mendez, Mykhail Tezai, and Landon Blankenship
Los Angeles County
Grade: 11
Saugus High School
Advisor: Wade Williams
This video shows two students who are going through tough experiences that they can't handle on their own. When they meet each other everything calms and they use each other as their "anchor." We thought that we could help encourage others to find someone who can help them.
Finish Strong
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Film and Music
Artist: Caden Bazo
Los Angeles County
Grade: 11
Saugus High School
Advisor: Wade Williams
A guy is struggling with grades and mental health gets offered to run for the track team and enjoys it, ultimately finding his anchor.
Friends
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Film and Music
Artist: America Garcia
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Twin Lakes Middle School
Advisor: Kenny Bowman
Whenever I feel down or lonely, I find comfort in my friends. I like feeling the comfort that I get when I am surrounded with familiar faces. That is why in this animation, I created the image of me being happy while being surrounded by my friends.