Poster contest illustrates ‘Friendship Knows No Color.’

Students in fourth- and fifth-grade classes across Berks County elementary schools got a lesson in diversity through an annual poster contest sponsored by Crime Alert Berks County.

For the past 10 years, fourth- and fifth-grade students have been asked to create posters depicting a popular theme. This year the theme was “Friendship Knows No Color” to show that everyone in schools, neighborhoods, communities and all of America is to be treated equally. That anyone, regardless of skin color, religion, nationality, political affiliation or economic status is to be recognized as a brother or sister. Differences of opinion are welcomed, as long as one exhibits complete respect for the individual.

The words “Friendship Knows No Color” had to be included as part of the design, and students could draw with crayons, markers, paints, colored pencils, or use cut paper to make their posters colorful and bright.

Students in Katie Jone’s frouth-grade class at Spring Ridge Elementary were eager to create the posters and enter the contest for prizes, like an Xbox One game, Gift Certificate to The Works, and a $100 gift certificate to HobbyTown USA. In past years, themes have been well-illustrated by students — themes like “Don’t Just Sit. Stay Fit!”, “Stay Away From Strangers”, and “Stop Bullying, It Hurts.”

Mrs Jones commented, “The students really took this theme to heart and one hundred percent of the class drew posters this year.”

Prizes and winners’ certificates will be awarded at Slick Willy’s/The Works during “The Race Against Crime” on Thursday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. This includes the winning teacher, the whole class and parents, too. Plus, there’ll be free cup cakes for the winning class.

Crime Alert Berks County is an anonymous crimetip hotline that started 20 years ago with no budget, no tips, no arrests. With an all-volunteer board and many who donate their time and services, they are now #1 in Pennsylvania in rewards and arrests among crime tip lines with 673 arrests and over $480,000 in reward money paid out. Tipsters can call 1.877.373.9913 or text ALERTBERKS at 847411 with a crime tip.

SUBMITTED PHOTO These three students were voted best in the class. Front: Zofia Beer, Cortana Rose Delapava, Chinmay Sumant; Back: Mrs. Katie Jones.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hard at work drawing posters. Left to right: Charlie Sterner, Emily Holcombe and Dennis Badea.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Students proudly display their creativity. Left to right: Cortana Rose Delapava, Wesley Gieringer, Jalexis Trinidad Rodriguez and Nuvia Ortiz Zamudio.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Charlie Sterner illustrated her world with friendships in all the continents.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Chinmay Sumant drew a rainbow globe with a heart at the center.