ICHV Announces Winners of Student Voices Contest

15th Annual Event Honors Creativity and Insights From Youth On How To Address Gun Violence; Student Winners Each Win Computer and Gift Certificate at Local Bookstore to Further Education

The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) announced the winners of the 15th annual “Student Voices Contest.,” an educational program that encourages and rewards young people for using their creativity to raise awareness about gun violence. ICHV held an awards ceremony on June 11th at ASPIRA Early College where several student winners, though not all, read selections of their essays and poetry and displayed their artwork to their peers. All of the student winners received a new computer and a $25 gift certificate from Borders to further their educational opportunities. (See complete listing of student winners below).

The Student Voices Contest is both inspirational and heart breaking: young people say they deserve the right to be safe in their communities and want opportunities to pursue their dreams. But students oftentimes express their pain and anger at losing friends and schoolmates to gun violence.

Veronadine Smith, a 12th grader from Corliss High School who won the high school art competition with her haunting artwork, stated in her piece, “Guns bring out the monster in us.”

Justin Juska, a 7th grader from Bryne Elementary, won the middle school poetry slot with his work “Guns Are Everywhere.” Justin’s eloquent poem about the power and pain of holding a gun said: “Heavy metal, cold and smooth wrapped around my wrist. No more power. No more respect. So much regret. I am scared. I am weak. I am alone.”

Nayley Gomez, an 11th grader at ASPIRA Early College, won the high school essay competition with her exceptional writing. “Kids are like sponges: they absorb everything around them. If they are exposed to gun violence as a form of general entertainment, especially at a very young age, they will label guns as toys. If they are given the wrong impression of guns and their effects are not properly explained, they will cherish this concept throughout their lives. Things you learn at a younger age stick with you forever.”

These are just a few samples of the stellar and exquisite work from this year’s ICHV Student Voices Contest. “We congratulate and honor all of our student winners for using their talents and voices in speaking out about gun violence. It is truly inspiring to see the creativity, thoughtfulness and passion from our young people who care deeply about making our communities safer,” said Thom Mannard, Executive Director of Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. “We are grateful for all of the schools that participated in this year’s Student Voices Contest, from our principals, teachers, parents and especially our young people who worked so hard and helped make this event a success. We were honored to hold this year’s awards ceremony at ASPIRA Early College, a high school in Chicago which has demonstrated incredible leadership in helping to build this powerful educational forum.”