William Paca Student Wins Shanti Fund Poster Contest

Yasmeen Darwich-Abdusalam, a sixth-grade student from William Paca Middle School, is the William Floyd School District artist of the month for February. Along with being named artist of the month for her talent and effort, Yasmeen was selected as the overall winner for her grade level in the Shanti Fund's "Peace Artworks" poster contest. Yasmeen will receive a cash prize of $601, and her work has been included in the 2020 Shanti Fund Peace calendar (December 2020).

“Yasmeen is a talented student who exhibits excellence in several styles of art, from illustration to painting to sculpting with clay,” said Marco Antenucci, art teacher, William Paca Middle School. “These talents have helped her achieve and maintain a perfect 100 average in sixth-grade art for the duration of the entire course as well as having her work selected as the winner of the Shanti Fund poster contest.”

Yasmeen's artwork will also be included in the annual New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) Portfolio Project Adjudication this upcoming May. “Her tireless dedication to honing her artistic talents and always putting in the extra effort to grow and improve is why she is so successful and will continue to impress us with her work for years to come,” Mr. Antenucci added.