SHSE - Ilysa Sirota Wins Shanti Fund Art Contest

Smithtown East Student Art Wins Contest

Ilysa Sirota with SHSE Drawing Teacher Tim NeedlesSmithtown High School East sophomore Ilysa Sirota won first place in an art competition sponsored by the Shanti Fund for her piece that best depicted this year’s theme of peace and security. Her work was chosen as the best high school entry from hundreds of entries from more than 20 districts across Long Island.  

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone presented Ilysa with her award along with her drawing teacher Tim Needles during a ceremony at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. She was also awarded a gift certificate for $146, Gandhi’s age if he were alive today. The Shanti Fund is a charitable group dedicated to promoting Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and his philosophy of peace. Her work will also appear in the Shanti Fund’s 2016 calendar.

 Illysa is shown here with Smithtown High School East drawing teacher Tim Needles.  Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District