Peace Islands' executive director Levent Koch welcomed the guests and started the program. He said they applauded winners of the PII's annual art and essay contest as middle and high school students wonderfully expressed their opinions on the theme "Poverty: Time to Act Together" with remarkable arts and essays. He congratulated the students, their parents and teachers. He said he was happy to see that PII helped them study and learn more about this critical global problem as students apparently studied poverty; poverty in NJ, in America and in the world. They used up-to-date statistics in their essays.
Levent Koch also thanked the sponsors of the contest: Star Ledger and EBRU TV, media sponsors, and PSEG who wrote a generous check. He gave good news: Peace Islands is hoping to allocate more funds to this important event next year to reward sponsoring teachers as well.
Following respected dignitaries presented the students their certificates and awards: Chief of Investigations for Morris County Prosecutor's Office William Schievella, Sen. Loretta Weinberg, John J. Paige of the Office Homeland Security and Preparedness and PII President Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq.
PII's Art& Essay Contest is an annual contest with a different theme each year and is meant to instill universally accepted values in our young and offer's them a forum where they can express their perspectives and learn how to practice these values from each other. Over $10,000 of prize are given out each year.