Consciousness-Based School students excel in artistic creative expression.

Consciousness-based school students win photography contests
by Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, USA, The Review
2 June 2008

Maharishi University of Management alumnus Radim Schreiber recently won the grand prize—which includes a trip to the Galapagos Islands—in the Rainforest Alliance's Picture Sustainability Photo Contest, sponsored by Fujifilm.

His photo, titled "Butterfly Trumpet", shows a butterfly's proboscis covered with nectar just after it has been feeding. [See www.radimphoto.com]

In addition to a trip for two to the Galapagos Islands, the grand prize includes a trip for two to a gala event in New York, a Fujifilm digital camera, and an Art Wolfe book.

The purpose of the contest was to help raise awareness around the issues of global sustainability and conservation. Mr. Schreiber's photo was selected from among over 5,000 submissions.

Mr. Schreiber graduated from Maharishi University of Management in 2003, and won winning the award for outstanding art student. He now works at Sky Factory in Fairfield, Iowa, where his job title is "Sky Wizard". The Sky Factory designs and manufactures ceiling tiles with photographic images of the sky.

Also in Iowa, USA, Maharishi School student Alysia Belilove won the top award last month in the 2nd Congressional District of Iowa for her photo "Foot Soles," which will now represent Iowa for a year in the Cannon Tunnel Gallery of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

In addition, Ms. Belilove received three airline tickets to Washington, D.C., to attend the reception for the winning images on June 25.

The students won six awards out of seven in the 26th Congressional Arts Competition, hosted by Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa. The judging took place at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, with a reception afterwards, with Congressman Loebsack. There were 146 pieces entered from the 2nd District of Iowa.

In addition to Ms. Belilove, other students winning awards included a third-place for Choey Shreck for her drawing, and honorable mention awards for photos by Benji Jones, Hagen Rainbow, Dodie Page Thiel, and Sothea Shreck.

The works that won third place and honorable mentions will be hung in the Iowa District Offices of Congressman Loebsack for one year.

The art competition was created in an effort to recognize the creative talents of young Americans. All 50 states have artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel Gallery.

Carolyn Waksman is the students' photography teacher and Greg Thatcher their art teacher.

©Copyright 2007, Maharishi University of Management