March 2022 Winners
Please see awards in three groups: Hope, Justice and March’s monthly prompt “Take Action for Mental Health”.
Hope and Justice – Hope
Journal of Secrets
1st Place Hope - March 2022
Artist: Macie Parmenter
Marin County
Grade: 12
Marin School of the Arts at Novato High
Advisor: Rebecca Pollack
“My poem tells the story of a person whose journal binding broke, releasing all the pages they wrote on during a hard time in their life. As they gather the pages up again, they begin to realize just how far they've come from that dark place. They bind the pages together again with a green ribbon, the symbol of mental health awareness, so that whenever they find themselves in crisis again, it is there as a reminder that things do get better.”
Finally There
2nd place (tied) Hope - March 2022
Artist: Riley Trosclair
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Palms Middle School
Advisor: Mrs. Irene Clark
A film showing to never give up, even in the difficult situation that you're in. To never lose sight of your dream.
Subliminal
2nd place (tied) Hope - March 2022
Artist: Shaylee Bottomley
Santa Barbara County
Grade: 12
Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA)
Advisor: Daniel Barnett
“I have struggled with self-esteem and body image throughout the past few years. I have felt a huge amount of pressure from unrealistic standards that society has set. These standards distort the perception of beauty and cause people to be afraid of expressing themselves.”
A Little Fun
3rd place Hope - March 2022
Artist: Ashley Breana Dunaway
Riverside County
Grade: 11
Heritage High School
Advisor: Charis Washington
“My entry is about practicing self-care by allowing your inner child to run wild. If they wish to dance, then you dance. If they want to finger paint, then you finger paint. Reconnecting to your inner child lets you enjoy the simple things in life and gives you a way to relax and have fun.”
Choose Hope
Honorable Mention Hope - March 2022
Artist: Kayley Zargar
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Palms Middle School
Advisor: Mrs. Irene Clark
I chose this topic because it really got my attention and seemed interesting to make a film about that topic. There was some special effort to put in the film because me and my team had to use many different types of tools to film. I feel that everyone should choose hope. I learned about the importance of having hope.
It Gets Better by Change
Honorable Mention Hope - March 2022
Artist: Lexi Renolds
Los Angeles County
Grade: 12
Saugus High School
Advisor: Wade Williams
Most young teenagers struggle with finding things to relate to help them through their struggles. While there are abundant resources available, it can only do so much without acknowledging the problem and how to truly fix it. This video provides some affirming ideas and advice on how to change your life for the better.
My Life With Tito
Honorable Mention Hope - March 2022
Artist: Dominique Lopez
Los Angeles County
Grade: 11
East Valley High School
Advisor: Ms. May
Rescue dog Tito also rescued us. Tito is a best friend with unconditional love
Finding Hope
Honorable Mention Hope - March 2022
Artist: Jacob Vasquez
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Palms Middle School
Advisor: Mrs. Irene Clark
One character is insecure about their body, one wants to be better at drawing, and another character wants to be good at video games, and they get hope and each of them keeps going and practicing. We are hopeful of becoming a better version of ourselves in this film. Our film is about how people don’t have to be afraid of what they choose and shouldn’t change themselves for someone else and that they should have hope that everything will get better.
Hope Flows
Honorable Mention Hope - March 2022
Artist: Alexander Franco
Sacramento County
Grade: 10
Sacramento & Academic Vocational Academy
Advisor: Daniel Romoleroux
The entry is a visual representation of how hope can flow from pain to create even more love.
Time to Move On (TMO)
Honorable Mention Hope - March 2022
Artist: Nicholas Urbano
Sacramento County
Grade: 12
Sacramento & Academic Vocational Academy
Advisor: Daniel Romoleroux
This entry is an original song created as a collaborative effort. The song looks to motivate others to tap into their strengths and supports to overcome the obstacles of our life experience.Listen here
Hope and Justice – Justice
Sy(STEM)ic Sexism – Rosalind Franklin
1st place Justice - March 2022
Artist: Madeleine Leavitt
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 11
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
“Rosalind Franklin was a woman who made exceptional contributions to the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA. Her utilization of X-ray crystallography was arguably the most important key regarding the discovery, however, for a long time, she received little acknowledgement despite her efforts. Two scientists researching the topic became aware of the structure and published their realizations - Franklin was scarcely mentioned in their work. The scientists would go on to receive a Nobel prize for their discovery, while people debated whether Franklin would have received the Nobel prize if she were alive. Although her contributions are more well known, she was never alive to witness the fruits of her labor, teaching us the importance of discussing sexism in STEM.”
Black Lives Matter
2nd place Justice - March 2022
Artist: Meliya Russom
San Diego County
Grade: 12
The Preuss School
Advisor: Amanda Torre
I wrote this poem after the murder of George Floyd and the rise in the Black Lives Matter movements across the US. I decided to write a poem because it is a very expressive form of literal arts. When writing essays, we are always taught to be formal and objective, but in this poem I was able to write about the frustration and anger I felt, but also the admiration and hope I have for the Black Lives Matter movement without any repression of my words.
The Mermaids of the Sickened Sea
3rd place Justice - March 2022
Artist: Avary Kranzky
Los Angeles County
Grade: 11
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
“My piece is inspired by the overwhelming pollution in the ocean that affects the life of sea animals. In my artwork you can see a mermaid looking solemnly into what has become of her ocean now filled with pollution and trash.”
Justice, Karsen Frank
Honorable Mention Justice - March 2022
Artist: Karsen Frank
Nevada County
Grade: 7
Ready Springs Elementary School
Advisor: Trinity Keeble
This is Karsen's interpretation of justice.
The Need for Lady Justice
Honorable Mention Justice - March 2022
Artist: Kayla Taylor
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 11
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
In this piece I wanted to depict Lady Justice “looking” upon earth. Since Lady Justice is an important symbol used across the earth, I wanted to illustrate the aura of fairness, opportunity and justice that she exhibits. As people fight for justice across the world they look towards the symbol of Lady Liberty in their fight and I feel as though this is an important concept that deserves to be showcased.
March Monthly Prompt
#Reach Out for Help
1st place (tied) Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Lindsay Chung
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 10
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
When I first heard about the monthly prompt, it first reminded me of how we use social media or texting. Nowadays, a lot of people use hashtags (#) in their social media to share their thoughts about things like Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate protests. So, I thought that it would be great to use the hashtag #takeaction4MH to help others who need help with mental health problems.
Too Faced
1st place (tied) Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Sofia Larson
Riverside County
Grade: 9
Liberty High School
Advisor: Deanne Dean
My art shows that even if someone looks happy all the time, they aren’t. You just need to look deeper not just see what you want to.
“When the world can be yours”
2nd place Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Joseph Soto
Riverside County
Grade: 11
Ramona High School
Advisor: Veronica Martinez
When the world can be yours, art projects allowed the creators of these projects to use visual, logical, and social-interpersonal learning styles to capture the attention of the Ramona High School students and, more importantly, to promote Mental Health dialogue among one another. This Art Project required a great deal of internal reflection and dialogue to consider how to voice the concerns of our RAMS and how to reassure others that it's truly okay to ask for help.
Light At the End of a Tunnel
3rd place (tied) Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Darnell Russell
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Palms Middle School
Advisor: Mrs. Irene Clark
I like this film because it's a good way on how to tell people how to raise your happiness. We love making films.
Speaking on Mental Health
3rd place (tied) Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Schylar Johnson
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Palms Middle School
Advisor: Mrs. Irene Clark
I’m Schylar Johnson. I enjoyed working on the camera for this film , I choose this topic because EVERYONE struggles with mental health even just by a little bit .
Why Do I Feel Like This?
4th place Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Iliana Walter
Yuba County
Grade: 8
Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts
Advisor: Glen Weisgerber
When I made this work, I learned and realized a few things. One of the things that I learned is that people can be afraid of asking "Why do I feel like this?" They could be scared to address their mental health. They could also be scared of reaching out or trying to understand what they're feeling. I realized that I relate to this because I sometimes avoid or ignore my mental health problems even though I shouldn't. I wanted this project to feel relatable and to make a viewer realize that they could be ignoring their problems and then try to start addressing them.
You’re Not Alone
5th place Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Juliet Gonzalez
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Grade: 11
Claremont High School
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
“The green ribbon is a symbol for mental health and in my piece represents living or something alive. This is meant as a reminder that you're not alone, that if you turn around to look in all directions, you'll see that there are people like you who feel isolated and sad.”
Faces of Anxiety
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Makayla Chacon
Riverside County
Grade: 8
Pinacate Middle School
Advisor: Veronica Torrez
I chose this category for my painting because it's a mental disorder that I suffer through a lot and tends to affect how I act when being social which having social anxiety can be a struggle. I also chose it because it's a common mental disorder, and it can affect many people.
Isolation
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Isabella Gonzalez
Riverside County
Grade: 10
Arlington High School
Advisor: Molly Puzo
“The meaning behind my piece is that you don't have to struggle when you are at your worst. You can talk about what's happening within you instead of letting it build up like I once did.”
Thinking of you
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Gabriel Mercado
Riverside County
Grade: 8
Mountain View Middle School
Advisor: Noal Garett
I choose this category because i have stress and even sometimes feel sad i want to bring awareness to such a topic like this.
Pledge For Mental Health
Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - March 2022
Artist: Angelica Cole
Los Angeles County
Grade: 8
Palms Middle School
Advisor: Mrs. Irene Clark
Angelica: "Some things that I got from my film is doing my own pledges for myself we chose to do pledges for mental health and some special effects was we used a green screen." Jesse: "I got to feel better about myself and we picked it because we thought it would be easy." Shelliece: "I have been trying to keep track of my mental health, and I got a really helpful pledge to recite for when I'm feeling sad."