Discovery students Kassidy Locke, Jane Newberry and Iman Gadalla created poster art for Asian Pacific Heritage Month. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON — The art designs by three Discovery Middle School students earned recognition from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command.

Iman Gadalla, Kassidy Locke and Jane Newberry created submissions for the poster contest recognizing Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Discovery art teacher Raquel Spiegel said.

Gadalla was the first-place winner. Locke took second place, and Newberry earned third place. Rosie’s International Services Inc. sponsored the contest.

Sgt. Jason B. Cundiff with the command commended Spiegel “as a valued member of the … school system. Your efforts to encourage our youth to explore individualism through arts are truly appreciated.” Cundiff serves as installation equal opportunity advisor.

“The portraits we received have further proven that children are putting forth efforts to explore innovative opportunities to express their place within our society,” Cundiff said. “Through competitions, we have observed competitiveness to be a beneficial method to encourage uniqueness and talents.”

Gadalla, Locke, Newberry and Spiegel were invited to an awards ceremony in the Bob Jones Auditorium of the Sparkman Center on Redstone Arsenal in May. The event served “to show our appreciation and acknowledge the endeavors of our youth and their dedication to expression,” Cundiff said.

The audience of soldiers, civilians and students’ families observed various cultural exhibits, participated in a food tasting and viewed dance performances. Gadall’s poster art also was shown in exhibit.

“We strive to promote diversity and inclusion within the community, and one way we achieve this goal is through Ethnic Observance Programs,” such as the Asian-Pacific Heritage Month program, Cundiff said.

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month is observed in May as a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. In that month, the first Japanese individual immigrated to the United States in 1843, and the transcontinental railroad, constructed primarily by Chinese immigrants, was completed in 1869.

For more information, visit asianpacificheritage.gov.