Virginia high school student wins international art contest

[2020]

NBC News covers the middle school winner of our annual student art contest, the Science Without Borders® Challenge.

NBC 12
by WHSV-TV
July 1, 2020

Aradhey’s piece, “Coral Reef Superhero.”

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) — A 14-year-old student from Harrisonburg High School received a $500 scholarship to pursue his art career that has only just begun.

Anish Aradhey submitted a piece that he thought would “inspire a new generation of young, active leaders” to the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s 2020 Science Without Borders Challenge. The international contest promotes ocean conservation and invites students from around the globe to create art that “inspires people to preserve, protect and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources,” according to a press release.

Aradhey’s piece “portrayed a young girl picking up beach trash to show the importance of youth regarding coral reef conservation.”

“I am excited to win the contest because it means that my artwork will be used to spread awareness about coral reef conservation around the world,” said Anish. “I hope that more young people find the inspiration within themselves to create something amazing and share it with others — the world needs more of that, especially now.”

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

Some students I remember for their grades, their quick answers, or a moment that made the whole class laugh. Others I remember for the way they stepped into the mangroves.

Desta was the kind of student who thrived outdoors. While some students hesitated at the edge of the mud, he walked right in. And when he inevitably got stuck — because everyone does — he didn’t get frustrated. He laughed. Covered in mud, holding mangrove propagules in his hands, he embraced the experience fully.

Even then, it was clear that he was connecting with the environment in a way that went beyond the lesson plan…

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.

There are certain faces you never forget.

Over the years, hundreds of students have stepped into mangrove forests with us through the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program. I may not always remember every name, but I remember the expressions — the hesitation before stepping into thick mud, the laughter when someone loses a shoe, the look of surprise when they catch that unmistakable sulfur smell rising from the mangrove soil…

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From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

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