Dana Voldan, an eighth grade student at Merton Williams, has taken the first step to becoming an internationally-recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Hilton Lions Club. Voldan's poster is among more than 325,000 entries submitted worldwide in the fourteenth annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

Hilton Lions Club President, Jack Trembly, said he was impressed by the amount of effort exhibited by the Merton Williams students in Jan Pecora's classes. "It's obvious that these people have strong ideas of what peace means to them. I'm so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions with all of us." In addition to Voldan's work, the posters of Casey O'Connell, Brianna Byrne and Kristen Erath were also recognized for exceptional quality.

Voldan's poster now advances to round-two district competition in the seven-county district where her entry will compete against entries from many other local Peace Poster Contests.

Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere. Ultimately, one grand prize winner will be selected from 24 international finalists. The grand prize includes a cash award of $2500, plus an all-expense-paid trip for the winner and two family members to New York City for the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. As merit award winners, the remaining 23 finalists will each receive certificates and a cash award of $500.