Amaliah Cunningham stands beside her winning poster titled, 'Distinguished Jamaicans in Canada'. Amaliah, a 10th-grade student at St Hugh's High School, captured the first prize in a recently held Black History Poster Art Competition staged by the Canadian High Commission. - Photos by Michael Slolely

Amaliah Cunningham, a 10th-grade student of St Hugh's High School in St Andrew, was adjudged the winner of the Canadian High Commission's Black History Poster Art Competition.

In observation of Black History Month, the High Commission of Canada staged a Black History Poster Art Competition for students between the ages of 13 and 18 in 20 high schools in Kingston and St Andrew. The students were required to submit one piece of original artwork of 20 inch x 30 inch dimensions on the theme: 'Distinguished Jamaicans in Canada'. The artwork was also required to include a short descriptive text about the significance of the personality or personalities depicted in each submission.

Amaliah's colourful poster depicted distinguished Jamaican-Canadian personalities Mary Anne Chambers, Michael Lee Chin, Raymond Chang and Alvin Curling.

On April 9, the High Commission of Canada hosted a ceremony in Amaliah's honour at which Blair Bobyk, political and economic counsellor, presented Amaliah with a gift certificate. Bobyk congratulated Amaliah on her outstanding poster and provided valuable words of encouragement to the young student.

On hand to witness Amaliah's award were her mother, Frank Wong, art teacher and some of her classmates.

Amaliah Cunningham (left), 10th-grade student at St Hugh's High School, accepts her gift certificate from Blair Bobyk, political and economic counsellor at the Canadian High Commission. Amaliah's poster was declared the winner in a recently held Black History Poster Art Competition staged by the Canadian High Commission. On hand to witness the happy occasion were (from second left) Amaliah's mother and her art teacher Frank Wong.