Two Westover juniors — Lucy Bird and Miriam Hernandez — have received awards for photo essays they created that were featured this spring on the social media platforms of News Decoder, the global educational news service for young people.
Lucy and Miriam were among eight students who won awards in News Decoder’s ninth Storytelling Contest. Cash prizes were awarded to the first-place winner, the three runners-up, and four third-prize winners. Lucy and Miriam were among the third-prize winners.
In announcing the contest results to the winners, Nelson Graves, the founder of News Decoder, said, “The jury was very impressed by the overall quality of the entries. The competition was the closest ever. We are proud to publish your work for a global audience.”
Westover was one of just two schools to have more than one prize winner in the competition, which is held twice a year. Nelson noted that Lucy and Miriam had “won awards for photo essays — always a strong medium for that school.”
Lucy’s photo essay connected the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of more than half a century ago with the contemporary Black Lives Matter movement. Miriam’s captured her conflicting feelings growing up in a family from Mexico that had immigrated to the United States.
“I’m so proud of Miriam and Lucy,” said Caleb Portfolio, who has taught both students in Westover’s Photography classes. “They both recognize the potential that art and photography have to raise awareness, tell stories, and change minds. Despite the many challenges that students faced this year, their work stood out and they deserve this honor.”
Kate Taylor, Director of Westover’s Rasin Center for Global Justice, coordinates the School’s ongoing programs with News Decoder, a partnership that began six years ago.
“We’re so pleased to have this on-going partnership with News Decoder,” Kate said. “It offers a wonderful way for our students to both receive recognition for their thoughtful work, but also to engage with other young people on issues critical to their time.”
“These two students in particular,” Kate added, “submitted very powerful photo essays on issues that are important to them. I’m grateful they are encouraged and supported to create such work through Caleb’s classes, and then can share their messages with the global community.”
Earlier in May, Caleb was the subject of a Faculty Spotlight profile on News Decoder’s platforms, focusing on his commitment to teach his students how to use their photography skills as a catalyst for change in the world.
Kate also noted that three of Westover’s international students — senior Monica Lau and juniors Jenny Lee and Elaine Zheng — helped to organize and participated in an April 17th webinar entitled “International Perspectives on COVID-19.” The webinar also featured students from another New Decoder partner school, Kings Academy of Jordan.
