Community Corner

Young Banning Artists Recognized

Malaika Thompson and Jade Turner of Nicolet Middle School in Banning earned awards in a regional competition that included entries from nine western states, according to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Gorgonio Pass.

Two Nicolet Middle School students have been recognized in a multi-state competition featuring young artists, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Gorgonio Pass announced Thursday.

Malaika Thompson's acrylic painting "Flower Garden" earned a second-place award in the Pacific region, which included entries from Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and California, a spokeswoman for the Pass clubs said.

Jade Turner's collage "Memories" earned an honorable mention award in the nine-state competition, according to Pass Boys & Girls Clubs director of operations Rhonda Guaderrama.

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Malaika and Jade are both members of the Boys & Girls Club at Nicolet Middle School in Banning, Guaderrama said.

They were among seven winners in a Pass area local fine arts competition, and their work was submitted to the Pacific region competition. The Pass Boys & Girls Clubs were among more than 4,000 clubs across the United States that participated in the National Fine Arts Exhibit program, Guaderrama said.

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Maria del Rosario Sanchez and Stephanie Grajada, also members of the Nicolet Middle Boys & Girls Club, created artwork that earned second-place awards in the Pass area local competition, Guaderrama said in a phone interview.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Gorgonio Pass are managed as a non-profit youth development agency. There are clubhouses in Banning, Beaumont and Cabazon.

For information about volunteering, making donations and sponsorships, call (951) 922-3259 or visit www.bgcsgpass.com/.


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