Leland Dumais, center, explains his poster at a presentation to statewide Lions Club members, while his teacher, Madeleine Saint Pe, and Jaffrey-Rindge Lions Club member Rich Comeau look on. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Leland Dumais holding his framed peace poster. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
International Lions Club Director Dave Wineman with the first and second place state winners of the state level Peace Poster contest, with Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School student Leland Dumais, right, placing first. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Lions Youth Services President Eric Olsen awards prizes to art teacher Madeleine Saint Pe and Leland Dumais. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Member and Chairperson of the Annual Peace Poster Contest Melissa Dillingham and President of the Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club Richard Comeau with Jaffrey-Rindge seventh graders, showing off their peace posters. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Member and Chairperson of the Annual Peace Poster Contest Melissa Dillingham and President of the Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club Richard Comeau with Jaffrey-Rindge sixth graders, showing off their peace posters. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Member and Chairperson of the Annual Peace Poster Contest Melissa Dillingham and President of the Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club Richard Comeau with third-place winner of the Jaffrey-Rindge Lions Club chapter’s Peace Poster contest Eve LaPlante. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Member and Chairperson of the Annual Peace Poster Contest Melissa Dillingham and President of the Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club Richard Comeau with second-place winner of the Jaffrey-Rindge Lions Club chapter’s Peace Poster contest Hannah Parks. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript 
Member and Chairperson of the Annual Peace Poster Contest Melissa Dillingham and President of the Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club Richard Comeau with first-place winner of the Jaffrey-Rindge Lions Club chapter’s Peace Poster contest Leland Dumais. COURTESY / Ledger-Transcript
A Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School student has been named the New Hampshire state winner in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest and will now advance to compete at the international level.
For nearly 40 years, the Lions International Peace Poster Contest has invited students ages 11 to 13 to express what peace means to them through art. Each year, local Lions clubs sponsor the contest in schools and youth organizations around the world, recognizing winners at the local, state and international levels. One international grand prize winner receives $5,000.
This year’s theme was “Together As One.”
The Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club sponsored the contest again this year with art students at Conant Middle High School. More than 60 posters were submitted. Local winners received gift certificates to Athens Pizza in Jaffrey.
Seventh-grader Leland Dumais earned first place. Second place went to sixth-grader Hannah Parks, and third place to seventh-grader Eve LaPlante.
Leland’s poster features two clasped hands, peace symbols and a flag made of interlocking puzzle pieces, each displaying the flag of a different nation — reflecting the theme of unity.
After winning at the local level, Leland’s poster advanced to the state competition, where it was selected as New Hampshire’s top entry among submissions from Lions clubs across the state. His artwork will now move on to international judging.
In late January, Leland and his mother attended the New Hampshire Lions Club Mid-Year Convention with members from the Jaffrey-Rindge Centennial Lions Club. He was awarded a $500 prize by Eric Olsen, Lions Youth Services President. His art teacher, Madeleine Saint Pe, who also attended, was awarded a $250 prize.