Michael Applewhite, left, a Jarrettown Elementary School first grader, shakes the hand of Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairman Neil Makhija on June 16, 2025 after being announced as one of the winners of the county’s Art and Poetry of Freedom Contest. (Rachel Ravina – MediaNews Group).
Winners of 2025 contest featured during county's Juneteenth flag raising ceremony
Eight students were acknowledged for their creative talents as winners of Montgomery County’s Art and Poetry of Freedom Contest.
The fourth annual contest featured a theme of “hope in action” as a number of kindergarten through 12th grade students attending public, private, parochial, and home schools across Montgomery County were applauded for their efforts during a Juneteenth flag raising ceremony outside the Montgomery County Courthouse.
Donna Richemond, Montgomery County’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, underscored the importance of this year’s theme as young people put their creativity on display.
“We need hope more than ever, but also we need to recognize that hope is fruitless unless there’s action behind it,” Richemond said. “I appreciate all of our young people participating in this county and giving us examples of what hope in action means to them.”
Richemond too acknowledged the efforts given from parents, teachers and principles as they encouraged students to submit their work for art and poetry across four different grade level categories. The contest had 56 submissions, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson, as each person was given a certificate of participation.
The following winners were acknowledged Monday: Michael Applewhite, a first grader at Jarrettown Elementary School; Danbi Kim, a freshman at Boyertown Area High School; Melody Lian, a fourth grader at Arrowhead Elementary School; Genner Lima, an eighth grader at the Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy; Mirabella Miles, a second grader at Plymouth Elementary School; Abram Saavedra, a fifth grader at the Elkins Park School; Lillian Santacroce, a sixth grader at Middle School West; Giana Venezia, a senior at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, and an honorable mention for a sophomore at the Montgomery County Youth Center.
Visit the Montgomery County Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s website for more information at montgomerycountypa.gov/4281/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion.
