In February 2010, EWS Board of Trustees members Blake Hanson ’70 and Ora Kriegstein, along with Paul Oechslin, EWS Band Director, Marie Ucci, EWS Art Teacher, Kara Sweeney, Director of Marketing, and Community Service Director, Martine Tawaji, organized the Wish You Were Here art contest for students in First - Eighth grade, to benefit both the Make-a-Wish Foundation ® of Metro New York and of Suffolk County
EWS invited approximately 50 area schools to participate in the art contest, which asked students to create a special wish that could be in a place that is real or in their imagination, a country far from home or in their backyard, a special person, or the one and only object of their desire!
EWS received over 250 submissions, including the work of its own students, which were judged by independent judges selected and provided by the Make a Wish Foundation®.
On Friday, April 23 a benefit reception at which the contest winners were announced and prizes awarded was held at The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington. Awards were given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for the grades 1-4 category and grades 5-8 category. There were also honorable mentions for each category level. The evening featured a grand performance by the East Woods School Rhythm and Blues Band, and each of the art entries were displayed throughout the museum for viewing.
Congratulations to the following winners:
(Click here to view winning art submissions)
Grades: 5-9 Category
1. Wish to go to Paris
Parker Huseby
East Woods School
2. Wish to Scuba Dive
Marissa Moszczyc
East Woods School
3. Wish to go to Hawaii
Grace Covelli
Holy Child Academy
Grades 1-4 Category
1: Wish to Meet Elton John
Sarah Conway
James H. Vernon School
2: Wish to go to Italy
Lindsey Tiberia
James H. Vernon School
3. Wish to have a Hamster
Melina Kazanas
Portledge School
4. Alternate:
Wish to go to Egypt
Katie O’Sullivan
Holy Child Academy
Honorable Mentions: Juliette Lee, East Woods School; Sabrina Gatto, Holy Child Academy; Michael McLaughlin, Holy Child Academy; Derek Vickers, James H. Vernon School; Katie Niki, Village School; Eve J. Fine; Portledge; Tatiana Lucs, East Woods School; Julie B. Fine Portledge
Speakers at the event included Dr. Nathaniel Peirce, EWS Headmaster; Glenda Jackson, Town of Huntington Councilwoman; Howard Kalachman, Make a Wish Foundation®; Blake Hanson ‘70, EWS Board of Trustees, and EWS Community Service Student Representatives: Catherine Bechand, 9th Grade, Nathaniel Hogg, 8th Grade and Kristie Kelly, 9th Grade.
All proceeds from the evening have gone to both the Make-a-Wish Foundation ® of Metro New York and of Suffolk County.