USF Sarasota-Manatee Sponsors Poster Contest to Celebrate Diversity

This colorful diversity poster was submitted by Emily Wray, a student at Nolan Middle School.

Audrey Hurst, who attends Palmetto High School, submitted her own unique visual interpretation on diversity.

SARASOTA, FL (November 28, 2005) – Students from 13 middle schools and high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties have been invited to participate in a diversity celebration poster contest sponsored by the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. 

On November 29, USF Sarasota-Manatee will host an open house and awards ceremony in the Sudakoff Center at 6:30 p.m. Students, families, school personnel and community members are invited to attend.  

“Each student is encouraged to research diversity to gain a better understanding of what it means to them personally,” explained event organizer Pat Lakey, Disabilities and Diversity Coordinator for USF Sarasota-Manatee. “The artwork should reflect a student’s personal experience with or understanding of diversity.” 

Based on the feedback from local art teachers, the poster contest has stimulated thoughtful dialog about diversity among students. “It provided a real-life opportunity to combine some very important concepts in art education -- that of individual interpretation and the many correct choices individuals can make in problem-solving visually,” said Nadya Golubov, Lakewood Ranch High School art teacher. 

“The relevance of defining, experiencing, reflecting on and responding to multicultural diversity in our lives allowed my students to share information and knowledge acquired in other classes,” added Golubov. “It gave all of us an opportunity to talk about our own personal history of experiences that we've had, take a pulse regarding attitudes, biases, where they originate, and how we deal with them in society.”    

The posters have been evaluated by teams of judges comprised of USF students, faculty, and local artists and instructors. U.S. savings bonds, plaques and other prizes will be awarded to the selected entrants in the middle school and high school divisions.  

The first place poster from each division will be framed and hung on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, establishing a tradition for what Lakey hopes to become an annual event. “It is my goal to provide a visual representation of USF's commitment to diversity.”  

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who are interested in getting a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit. The regional campus offers the prestige of a national Research 1 university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at the Manatee Community College Venice site.