NEW YORK CITY – Who are your heroes?  Why do you admire them?  These
are questions that young immigrants from around the country are asked
to answer artistically in the 2007 Poster Contest for Immigrant Youth.

This year marks the 13th year that HIAS - the Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society - has sponsored the contest as a way to keep its legacy of
rescue and resettlement alive in the minds of its youngest
beneficiaries.

“Many immigrants, when asked why they chose to uproot their lives
and come to the United States, will answer, simply, ‘for my children,’”
remarked Jerry Teller, chair of the board of HIAS. “In turn, these
youngsters’ artwork inspires us to uphold the great values upon which
our country was founded. They teach us tolerance, pride and gratitude,
the value of diversity, the importance of good citizenship and the
amazing gifts that different cultures bring to the U.S.”

Last year’s theme, “When I Grow Up,” inspired dozens of entries. 
The grand prize went to Gabriella Khachiyan, 7, of East Brunswick,
N.J.  Her drawing, done in marker and crayon, depicts a veterinarian in
her office, which is filled with injured animals.

The contest is open to immigrant and first-generation children
(whose parents immigrated to the United States) between the ages of 4
and 15.  There can be only one entry per contestant and all artwork
becomes the property of HIAS.  Artwork must be no larger than 14” x
16”, in any medium - watercolor, crayon, oil, pencil, etc.

Submissions will be divided according to the following age groups:
4-7, 8-11 and 12-15.  Each entry must be accompanied by a brief
explanation of how the artwork relates to the theme.  Contestants in
the age 4-7 category should prepare at least two sentences describing
their work, those in the age 8-11 category should write at least one
paragraph; and those in the age 12-15 category should write two to
three paragraphs.  A panel will judge all works and accompanying
descriptions on the basis of creativity, originality, technique, and
relation to the theme.

The grand-prize winner will receive a $1,000 U.S. savings bond. 
Three runners-up will receive special recognition prizes.  All 12
finalists will receive a certificate of achievement and have their
poster reproduced in the HIAS magazine, Passages.           

Entries should be mailed to: HIAS Poster Contest, 333 Seventh Ave.,
16th Fl., New York, N.Y., 10001.  All entries must be received by June
30, 2007.

The official entry form, which includes contest rules, may be accessed via the HIAS website http://www.hias.org/Scholarships/poster/2007poster_flyers.pdf; by calling the HIAS Communications Office at 212-613-1349, or by e-mailing: steven.bibb@hias.org.