Deaton Wright, an eighth-grade student at the West Pine Middle School, has taken the first steps to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning the Multiple District 31 Statewide Peace Poster competition.

Wright qualified by first winning the local competition sponsored by the Seven Lakes Lions Club. His poster then went on to win both the District 31-F.

Wright's poster was among more than 350,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.

"As the theme of this year's contest was "Celebrate Peace," I incorporated a birthday cake, a hot air balloon and the flags of numerous countries as the basic components of my poster," the 13-year-old from Southern Pines said.

At the district level, the poster was selected by a panel of judges assembled by W. Clifford Stuckey, Chairman of the Sandhills Community College Fine Arts Department, for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme.

On the state level, selection was done by the Fine Arts Department of Appalachian State University.

Seven Lakes Lions Club President Ray Lambert said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at West Pine Middle School. "It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I'm so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions."

"Wright's poster, having been selected on the local, district, and statewide levels, now moves on to the international level of competition and the opportunity to be declared the international grand prize winner," Lambert said.

One international grand prize winner and 23 merit winners will be selected.

The grand prize includes a cash award of $2,500, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to New York City for the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.

"Our club is cheering for Deaton as his poster advances in the competition, and we hope that his vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world," Lambert said.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with nearly 1.35 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.