This Valley Stream District 30 student wins state art contest

Forest Road Elementary sixth grader, Jacob Ramirez, has been named the first-place winner in the New York State Association for Bilingual Education Student Art Contest in the grades 6-8 category. Jacob’s artistic talent carried him to the top while shining a spotlight on the contest’s mission: to advocate for bilingual education.

Jacob’s winning artwork, created under the theme, “Empowering Multilingual Student Voices to Advocate for their Right to Bilingual Education,” impressed judges with its creativity, originality and attention to detail. His submission stood out among entries from students across New York State, showcasing his passion for the conference’s themes of collaboration, leadership, equity, diversity, empowerment and advocacy.

As the first-place winner, Jacob will be honored with a medal and a $150 prize at NYSABE’s Awards Luncheon on April 6. He will also receive complimentary tickets to the luncheon for himself and two guests.

“We are immensely proud of Jacob’s accomplishment,” said Alison Bruno, Forest Road Elementary principal. “His dedication to his craft and his advocacy for bilingual education exemplify the values we strive to instill in our Global Leaders of Tomorrow. Congratulations, Jacob, on this well-deserved recognition.”