Student’s poster wins state civil rights contest

It was selected from more than 1,500 entries in Civil Rights Commission event.

Lakota East High School art student Nugeen Aftab, shown with an example of her artwork, created a poster that won the Ohio Civil Rights Commission's 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Lakota East High School art student Nugeen Aftab, shown with an example of her artwork, created a poster that won the Ohio Civil Rights Commission's 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest.

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 12:29 PM Friday, February 24, 2012

LIBERTY TWP. — Nugeen Aftab’s poster about the melting pot of America won the 11th-grade art competition in the 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest.

The Lakota East High School art student’s “Love is the Key to the Solution of the Problems of the World” was selected from more than 1,500 entries from across the state, according to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, sponsor of the event.

The theme of this year’s contest was “The Quest for Peace and Justice,” a speech King delivered during a lecture that brought him the Nobel Peace Prize.

“I didn’t really expect myself to win,” said Aftab, 16, who has personal experience of the melting pot as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants Kamran and Sarwat Aftab of Liberty Twp.

“I saw a lot of posters from other students, and I thought they were a lot better,” she said.

For her efforts, she has been invited to attend an award ceremony, held Thursday, at the Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, where King’s life is celebrated by showcasing the artwork from this year’s contest winners.

In her explanation of her entry to the commission, Aftab said: “The United States of America is filled with many nationalities that come together to make one nation. No matter our race, gender, religion, or social class, we need to accept each other. ... We need to do away with ignorance, put aside our differences, put love into our hearts, and create peace.”

Her explanation went on to say, “My poster is about how the USA is one nation filled with different kinds of people. Therefore, we need to start acting like one in order to make peace.”

Her poster was a homework assignment to be performed outside of her Drawing and Painting 2 class, said her teacher, Linda Augutis.

Under contest rules, Aftab had to conduct research and listen to the King speech and make a piece of artwork inspired by it, she said.

“Then we talked about graphic designers, what graphic designers do, and how to communicate a poster idea, as opposed to just a regular classroom drawing,” she said.

Aftab said she initially had decided to submit a graphic design — with the theme standing up for your own rights — but she could not find quotes from King’s speech to convey that message so she opted for paint.

“I just went through the speech and picked out quotes I really liked,” she said.

Augutis said she was confident a student from one of her classes would win because they all do such “phenomenal work,” but she was pleased Aftab created the winning entry.

“She’s a very hardworking student, she’s courteous and respectful. She is the ideal student,” Augustis said.

“Conceptually, I like the idea of the melting pot. So in terms of the concept,” she said, looking at Aftab in her classroom, “I really think that’s what made your’s stand apart from everyone else’s, because it was an original.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or denise.wilson@ coxinc.com.

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