SIS student, Emma Kwaterski, took home a second place win in the Bill of Rights Day Contest, with the winner announced during a Zoom event earlier this month.
Kwaterski shared she would have been thrilled just to be a finalist. “I was out of the country when I found out I was a finalist,” When she won second place she was overwhelmed with emotion. “It was a lot. Me and a couple of other friends, who were also finalists, were in a group chat and we were all just so excited!”
Kwaterski was one of thirteen SIS finalists in the Bill of Rights Day Contest, organized by The Judicial Learning Center. Participants were asked to submit artwork and essays on the importance of the Bill of Rights. Kwaterski chose to base her art project on LGBTQIA+ rights. “As an LGBTQ youth, I wanted to represent the LGBTQ community in my artwork, so I decided to create a painting that represents the community in an inclusive way,” she explained. “My artist statement discusses how LGBTQ people have been oppressed over the years and how we need to change that in government policy.” In her artist statement, Kwaterski referenced Bolivia's Bill of Rights, which guarantees equality for all LGBTQIA+ individuals under the law and bans discrimination or hatred on their coming out, marriage, or gender identity.
When asked where she drew her inspiration for her artwork, Kwaterski cited one of her favorite music artists, Chappell Roan. “The piece features a woman in a big dress that has a Progress Pride flag design, surrounded by other pride flags,” says Kwaterski. The artwork represents the need for greater inclusivity and stronger LGBTQIA+ rights in legislation.
With the Shorewood School Board recently passing a resolution in support of a comprehensive, current civics education, Kwaterski's win underscores the importance of civics in today's classroom. “It’s really important that we learn about the world around us, because if we don’t, we might not know how to vote or how our government works when we are older,” Kwaterski said. “Ms. Kopplin is preparing us for the real world, and I really appreciate it. I’m very lucky to have civics education.”
- Shorewood Intermediate School