On May 18, 2022

Rutland NAACP announces student contest winners

Submitted
Addie Lentzner, 17, of Arlington High School, won the written category of the NAACP contest, writing about the importance of schools teaching anti-racist education.

Two local high school students have been declared the winners of the second annual Black History Month contest, sponsored by the Rutland Area branch of the NAACP and the Vermont Student Anti Racist Network (VSARN). The contest challenged students to respond to a prompt in a written or visual arts form, with a prize of $500 in each category. This year’s prompts invited students to choose from a number of laws and policies, such as qualified immunity or bans on so-called critical race theory and demonstrate how that policy perpetuates systemic racism.

The winner in the visual art category was Christelle Poteau, 17, of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, with a digital art piece, “Mistakes are there to be learned from,” which references the banning of books.

Submitted
Christelle Poteau 17, of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, was the winner in the visual category for her piece above.

In her artist’s statement, Poteau writes, “One day in the future, a kid like myself will ask an adult, ‘Why do people that look like me come to America?’ ‘Who were these Black people fighting for freedom? Freedom from what?’ ‘What happened to the Natives?’ ‘Why does feminism exist?’ ‘Why is the world around us, the way it is today?’ As a black, female student, I fear that one day, no teacher, or parent would be able to answer these questions.”

Addie Lentzner, 17, of Arlington High School won the written category, writing about the importance of schools teaching anti-racist education.

She writes, “As kids grow up in America, they can’t escape the grasp of racial inequity and discrimination. Biases are inculcated into kids from an early age, and nobody is immune to it. That’s why ignoring racism is not enough. That’s why color-blindness only causes harm. That’s why neglecting to discuss racism in our schools is perhaps the most dangerous threat to the longevity of our country, because without learning about racism, kids are going to be racist. Without seeing themselves reflected in the curriculum, students of color are going to be negatively affected. Without education on anti-racism, all kids will suffer.”

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Hartland Winter Trails to celebrate 50 years

January 22, 2025
By Curt Peterson Hartland Winter Trails (HWT) has two 50th birthday events coming up — a concert with refreshments featuring Andrew and Noah Van Norstrand starting at 7:30 this Friday, Jan. 24, at Damon Hall, and a new format tiki-torch night event across from the firehouse from 2-8 p.m. on Feb. 8. In 1974 Henry…

Cobras slide into 2025 with confidence

January 22, 2025
Cobra Gymnastics, in Rutland, is off to a fantastic start for its 13th season as a competitive program. It was voted the 2024 Xcel Vermont Club of the Year under USA Gymnastics for the third year in a row and continues to promote a healthy and quality competitive program for athletes age 6-18 in the…

Killington reminds guests of uphill travel safety

January 22, 2025
As winter enthusiasts continue to embrace uphill travel at Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, resort officials remind guests of the importance of following designated routes and safety protocols. Uphill travel—whether by skinning or snowshoeing—offers an invigorating way to experience the mountain, but adherence to the resort’s policies is essential for ensuring the safety of all…

Facebook group dedicated to Sherburne Pass road conditions proves popular

January 22, 2025
By James Kent Brent Dickinson, a veterinary practice manager from Merchantville, New Jersey, is no stranger to Killington or the infamous Sherburne Pass. His family still owns a condo at Mountain Green, which they’ve had for over two decades. Dickinson graduated from Green Mountain College and was a Poultney volunteer firefighter before moving back to…