ProclaimHer Newsletter of the Boston's Women's Heritage Trail (BWHT) -- Spring 2003
Two years ago, BWHT held its first women’s history art contest. Over twenty students from many Boston schools participated, and their art was displayed in Boston’s City Hall. This year, the Trail sponsored another art contest about women’s history and it was again met with great interest. Nearly 500 students from grades k-12 submitted entries, and of those, eighty were displayed during the week of May 26th in the Copley Branch of the Boston Public Library.      This year’s contest asked students to select a woman from history and recognize her with a piece of currency. Throughout the world, currency is a way for nations to recognize important people and events from their history. Women are not equally represented on currency though, and this was an opportunity not only for students to create unique currency designs but also a chance for them to highlight the achievements of women from different countries, backgrounds, and periods in history. Women writers, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders were represented.      The idea for this contest was conceived during discussions teachers held during last year’s Boston Women’s Memorial Curriculum Summer Institute, and many teachers from that event participated in the contest. On Tuesday, May 27, a reception and awards ceremony was held to honor all of the student artists and to specially recognize the winning students. Students, teachers, families, and community members gathered at the Boston Public Library to view the art and congratulate the winners.	As part of the program, Board members Susan Wilson and Sylvia McDowell presented awards to sixteen students.       Having such a large number of students participate in this contest made it a wonderful success. Not only was beautiful and creative currency designed, but hundreds of historic women were recognized and introduced to the public. Many groups and individuals helped to make this contest a success and deserve special thanks: The participating teachers and students from: Boston Latin Academy, The Washington Irving Middle School, The George A. Lewis Middle School, The Patrick Lyndon School, The Josiah Quincy Upper School, The James P. Timilty Middle School, and The William Monroe Trotter School The judges: Erica Hirschler, Andre Lambert, Laura Maguire, Alex Pappas, Liz Rudnick, Guy-Michael Telemaque, Sarah Thompson, Rainey Tisdale, and Susan Wilson The Boston Public Library • An anonymous donor Marie Turley, Pat Nickerson, and Liz Goodwin of the Boston Women’s Commission A very special thanks must go to Amy Sallen for suggesting the idea in the beginning and helping with the organization throughout.
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