This year’s theme for the annual Marlboro-Milton Lions Club Peace Poster Art contest for Middle School students was ‘Lead With Compassion.’

At a school board meeting, Club President Stephen Jennison presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Middle School Principal Debra Clinton for allowing the club to hold the art contest. He said this year there were 11 submissions from the 7th and 8th graders and Jefferson Arias won the contest.

Jennison said Arias’ art work will be submitted to the district’s convention to compete with all of the Lions Clubs in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties.

Other students who submitted works were: Safina Martino, Ingrid Herrea Cordova, Kaylee Pujols, Tatiana Lindsay, Aria Faricellia, Kennedy Guadagno, Ashley Edwards, Yaretzi Guevara, Danrao Zhu and Elaeleh Herring.

Superintendent Michael Rydell recently attended a Lions Club meeting, “and it was absolutely my pleasure to meet the members and I was really amazed at the number of the individuals that were present for that meeting. It’s a vibrant organization and a great group of individuals and I’ll come back any time.”

Rydell said although some of the club members’ questions about the school district, “were tough, I think tough questions come from people that care, so I’ll take that any day. I really appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and I thank you for the invitation.”