Say Cheese!

By Baja Poawui

Students in Ms. Hunt's Intermediate and Advanced photography class crammed in a rental caravan to make a trip to Prince Georges Board of Education on March 5th. These 7 students were specifically chosen to participate in the Glen Dale-Lanham-Seabrook Park and Planning photo competition. This was created by Chairman Samuel J. Parker and the head of Park and Planning to include high school students in community development planning.
Starting in May of 2008 this program was open to all students within DuVal however "Many students weren't as enthusiastic as I had hoped", said Ms. Hunt, so this year she hand select¬ed the contestants. With impromptu field trips to local historical buildings, a photography competition soon became a history lesson as well. Vesting local Marietta Mansion where Gabriell DuVal himself is buried next to his horse, Senior Aaron Samuels stated, "I didn't even know he existed, then to find out he is buried not that far from our school was even more amazing."
Before the winners were announced Ms. Hunt reminded the students that " just to have your work published is a big deal, and trust me when you begin to realize that everyone in our area will have a copy of your work that will mean more to you than a reward." Then, after much begging the students fi¬nally heard the winners. Receiving Honorable Mention and a certificate were : Senior Aaron Samuels, Junior Chisom Njipu, Senior Danielle Edwards, and Senior La¬nae Alston. In 4th place was Senior Lashae Marshall, who received a certificate and a $50 Best Buy card, and Junior Calvin Crawley in 2nd , who won a $100 Best Buy card.
Both of these winners were truly shocked with their win but the biggest of them all came from Monica Ruis, who took first place and won a $75 Best Buy card. This means her photo will be published on the cover of the next Park and Planning issue, and, on top of it all, received a silver Ipod Nano. When asked on how she felt about such an win all she could say at the time was, " I'm just really shocked." Later, however, she mentioned at the reception how "great of an experience this was," and how thank¬ful she is of the opportunity.
Even though Ruis left with such a big reward no one in the end was a loser; all of the entered photography will be published throughout the next periodical.
"I am very proud of all of my student's I knew they had it in them," said Ms. Hunt.

By Jennifer Partridge |  March 10, 2009; 8:07 PM ET
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