Press Releases

          Local Students Honored Through Art Contest Celebrating Living Life to the Fullest

                     Aurora Mental Health Center Presents Art Contest Awards as Part of Annual Community Celebration

Aurora, CO, October 30, 2007 – Nineteen students and art teachers from more than 20 local schools received top honors for their entries in the Living Life to the Fullest Art Contest, sponsored by Aurora Mental Health Center.

The awards were presented at the Aurora Mental Health Center’s 32nd Annual Celebration, a community event held to introduce the public to the non-profit community mental health center’s services, mission, and Board of Directors. The event took place on Wednesday, October 24 at the Summit Conference and Event Center in Aurora, Colorado.

“We had a record number of people attend our event this year due to the art contest,” said Dr. Randy Stith, Executive Director of Aurora Mental Health Center. “To see the students at the event so proud
of their work and their accomplishments made the event that much better. Involving our community
is what our annual celebration and organization as a whole is all about.”

Students from Aurora Public Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, and Aurora Mental Health Center submitted their best art piece based on the theme “Living Life to the Fullest–What makes you happy and love life?” All pieces were displayed and recognized at the annual celebration and the winning students in each category were awarded prizes.

Winning students included:
       • Ages 5-7 1st place: Brianna Petersen 2nd place: Isabella Drew
       • Ages 8-10 1st place: Jesus Ibarra-Martines 2nd place: Isabella Ello
       • Ages 11-13 1st place: Christina Esposito 2nd place: Dean Eyolfson
       • Ages 14-16 1st place: Bobbi Larmer 2nd place: Rachel Ligaya Williams
       • Ages 17-19 1st place: Victor Won 2nd place: Jennifer Houghton
       • Director’s Choice Awards: Mrs. Foster’s 2nd Grade Class, Breanna Wheeler, and Nichole Scales

Conducting the meeting was Larry Davila, president of the Aurora Mental Health Center Board of Directors, who emphasized the commitment Aurora Mental Health Center has on providing residents, businesses, schools, and churches with quality, effective, and accessible services.

To compliment the art contest, guest speaker Erin Kuechler, Art Therapist for Aurora Mental Health Center, presented on how art making and creative self-expression are an integral part of a child’s learning and development process. She tied in ways that she uses art therapy to provide a safe outlet for children and adolescents to express their emotions during a crisis or after a trauma.

Kuechler shared that in a school setting, art making and art therapy encourages students to:
      1. Learn problem-solving strategies
      2. Learn patience
      3. Improve their ability to concentrate
      4. Gain social skills (i.e. sensitivity, cooperation, conflict resolution, anger management)
      5. Increases confidence
      6. Raises self-esteem

Additionally, the first recipient of the Ellin Mrachek Scholarship Fund to the Community College of Aurora was awarded to Christy Duplantier at the event. This fund is designed to assist students when continuing their education at the Community College of Aurora.

“This young woman’s determination and drive to succeed in school and in life are an inspiration to everyone that knows her,” said Terry Campbell Caron, Board Member of Aurora Mental Health Center. “We are pleased to see Christy become the first recipient of this scholarship to help her achieve her goals.”

Ellin Mrachek, founder of Aurora Mental Health Center 32 years ago, also served on the Aurora Public School Board for 12 years. Her determination to gain quality education and mental health services in Aurora, lead to the creation of many centers, schools, and programs, including the Community College of Aurora and Aurora Mental Health Center.