NMI’s Alcordo wins national art competition

  A visual art depicting the value of respect and appreciation of the diverse cultures in the Commonwealth won accolades for Marianas High School sophomore student Hannah Alcordo who emerged one of the winners in the national “Call to Artists” campaign launched by the College Board, a not-for-profit membership organization committed to excellence and equity in education with national office in New York City.

Alcordo’s art was among the 245 entries received by the organization and was among the four winners selected across the nation under the category “Asian American and Pacific Islander Summit,” where 65 entries competed for the honor.

Elated by the recognition, Alcordo described her winning as unexpected as she competed mostly against senior high school students from around the world.

Alcordo is said to be the only sophomore student that joined in her category. She will be awarded $1,000 financial assistance for her college education and an all-expense paid trip to a conference next summer along with one parent and her art instructor, Wesley L. Foster.

Alcordo, the daughter of Helen and Gilbert Alcordo, is a natural-born artist. Her dream is to pursue a career path that deals with arts. This year, she also bagged the congressional art competition conducted by U.S. Delegate Gregorio Sablan and which also won her the opportunity to unveil her creation at Washington, D.C. last month.

Alcordo yesterday shared with Saipan Tribune that she always finds satisfaction and fulfillment from all arts and creations. The student is also an active member of the National Thespian Society where she competed in both set and costume designs.

“I love the feeling of creating something. Through art, you can look at the world in a different way,” she said.

Alcordo’s winning entry conveys that children who learn and appreciate different cultures could live a much more peaceful life away from discrimination and racial prejudice.

“Young children are the main subject in this work because how they are taught in a young age affects them as an adult and human being in the future. All of this was inspired by the day to day happenings of my life here in the CNMI, a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific that is a melting pot of cultures,” she explained.

Foster, the student’s Advance Placement art class instructor, said Alcordo’s achievement brings honor not only to the student but to Marianas High School and the entire Commonwealth as well.

Because Alcordo is only in her junior year, the financial assistance will be deferred by the College Board until she gets to a college of her choice. The instructor also expressed excitement on the upcoming trip to the conference where Alcordo’s art will be distributed to all participants and an art’s signing is scheduled for the young artist.

College Board senior vice president Peter Negroni and vice president James Montoya, in their letter last Wednesday to Alcordo, said they were impressed with the local student’s creation.

“All artwork submitted for the Call to Artists Campaign was reviewed by a committee that included professional artists. Your work was chosen because it displays a high level of achievement and reflects the importance of student diversity in education. We applaud you for being included in this elite and accomplished group of artists,” they revealed.

By Moneth Deposa
Reporter