Pacoima : Arts Pride Project Winners to Be Picked

About 2,000 Pacoima elementary school students have entered works of art in the fifth annual Pacoima Pride Arts Project contest.

Finalists and winners will be announced today by a panel of six judges, including Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and Manuel Velasquez, a muralist and head of Community Youth Gang Services.

The contest, sponsored since 1990 by TransWorld Bank’s Pacoima branch, has grown steadily into a major community event, said teachers and community members. It began with just one school, Mary Immaculate School, and each successive year, the bank has invited a new school to participate.

This year’s theme is “Building a Community That Works Together.” Students from Telfair Avenue Elementary, Pacoima Elementary, Haddon Avenue Elementary, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center and Mary Immaculate School used paints, crayons and pencils in their illustrations.

“I see lots of cars, helicopters, houses and lots of pictures of schools,” said Elva Reyes, assistant principal at Haddon Avenue Elementary School, taking a peek at some entries on her desk on Monday.

Judges will begin viewing works, on display at each of the respective schools, at 8 a.m. today. Finalists’ works will be moved to TransWorld Bank in Pacoima, where first- and second-place winners will be chosen, along with those receiving honorable mention.

All entrants will receive certificates of participation. First-place winners will receive $100 savings bonds from TransWorld Bank. Others winners will receive prizes such as stuffed animals. In all, about 117 prizes will be awarded, organizers said.

An awards ceremony and exhibition of winning artworks will be held at 5 p.m. on Oct. 19 at TransWorld Bank’s Pacoima branch, located at 13657 Van Nuys Blvd. Works will remain on display at the bank until Nov. 3. On Nov. 6, the exhibit will move to the Bridge Gallery at City Hall in Los Angeles.