She is barely 13-years-old and has had designs on international competitions.
Somerville Intermediate student Morgan Alley has had her entry in the 2020 Lions Peace Poster competition selected to go forward to the international competition, after winning the local Howick Lions Club competition in December 2020.
This year’s poster theme was ‘Peace through Service’ and Morgan used a combination of colour pencils and watercolour paints to complete her poster of a medic helping someone in need.
“I wanted my poster to be relatable, so no matter where you are from, you can connect with it. I included a dove flying in the sky holding an olive branch because it is a universal symbol that represents peace,” says Morgan.
For over three decades, Lions Clubs around the globe have been sponsoring a very special art contest in schools and youth groups. Creating peace posters gives children everywhere a chance to express their visions of peace and inspire the world through art and creativity.
Morgan’s older sister Mackenzie had her artwork chosen to go forward as New Zealand’s entry into the international competition in 2018/19.
Morgan says that it inspired her to give it a shot.
She is keeping her fingers crossed as one international grand prize winner will receive US$5,000 and a trip to a special award ceremony with two family members at Lions Day with the United Nations.
Each of the 23 merit award-winners will receive US$500 and a certificate of achievement.
That apart, Morgan is thrilled that one of her illustrations has been selected by the author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling for a book The Ickabog.
It was during Covid-19 that the billionaire author serialised `The Ickabog online to entertain families stuck during lockdown.
She invited children aged 7-12 from around the world to illustrate her story.
More than 18,000 entries were submitted from the UK, Ireland, India, Australia and New Zealand. Thirty-four pictures were selected for the UK edition of the hardcover book.
Morgan says it’s her biggest achievement.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out that my illustration was chosen as I am a huge fan of JK Rowling. The book was released on November 10 this year and it’s really exciting visiting book shops and seeing my illustration in print. I got to be on the AM Show which was exciting and I received a signed copy of JK Rowling’s book as well as a $1000 worth of books that I was able to donate to Somerville Intermediate’s library,” she says.
