Fort Lee First Grader Wins LG Poster Contest

Scores of K-8 students from Englewood Cliffs, Englewood, Tenafly and Fort Lee recently participated for a chance to win LG prizes and to have their exhibit ideas considered by a panel of expert judges for the new LG science center.

But after LG received more than 100 posters from students enrolled in 11 local schools, according to a representative for the South Korean-based company, only one grand prize winner could be chosen.

Grand Prize Winner, LG’s President’s Award:

• First Grade: Hailey Song, Christ the Teacher Interparochial School, Fort Lee

First Prize Winners, LG’s Outstanding Accomplishment Award:

• Kindergarten: Lauren Muller, Fort Lee School No. 1, Fort Lee
• First Grade: Hailey Song, Christ the Teacher Interparochial School, Fort Lee
• Second Grade: Antonio Candemir, North Cliff School, Englewood Cliffs
• Third Grade: Erik Minhyuk Lee, Tenafly Mackay School, Tenafly
• Fourth Grade: Joseph Choi, Fort Lee School No. 2, Fort Lee
• Fifth Grade: Kasiani Mantziaris, Tenafly Smith School, Tenafly
• Sixth Grade: Kenneth Yan, Tenafly Middle School, Tenafly
• Seventh Grade: Joon Han, Lewis F. Cole Middle School, Fort Lee
• Eighth Grade: James Stitham, Lewis F. Cole Middle School, Fort Lee 

Students were asked to design an exhibit for LG’s “Discover Your Green World” theme. They were asked to explore how consumers and families can help protect the environment at home or in their community through science exploration, discovery and technology.

“LG’s new science and environmental center will be an interactive venue for local students to explore the role that science and technology play in our daily lives and represents an important way for LG to give back to a community that’s been our home for the past 25 years,” said I.D. Kim, the LG Electronics USA vice president overseeing the project. “We’re thrilled to see the students’ and local schools’ excitement about the environmental theme, and we’re looking forward to integrating some of the students’ ideas into this community learning center.”

The expert panel of judges made up of community officials and LG executives evaluated students’ posters based on creativity and ingenuity, effectiveness of message, overall presentation and feasibility of implementation. After evaluating the posters, the judges selected one First Prize from each participating grade and one Grand Prize winner. 

First place winners received a suite of LG products including an LED computer monitor, mouse scanner and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax DVD. In addition to receiving these prizes, the grand prize winner was also awarded an LG Smart TV and home audio system.

This is the first year the contest is being held locally and representatives said the company is considering making it an annual event.

The contest comes in the middle of a roiling debate over LG’s plans to build a 143-foot North American corporate headquarters in Englewood Cliffs. 

Political heavyweights such as Kathleen Donovan, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and The New York Daily News and New York Times have all weighed in on the electronics giant's plans.