Art For Life—Three East Lyme Students Take Top Honors in Donate Life's Visual Arts Contest

Three East Lyme High School students—Aimee Cicchiello, Shannon Gada, Kayla Fobian—are being honored at the Connecticut Capitol in Hartford today as top award winners in the 23rd Annual Donate Life Connecticut High School Visual Arts Contest.  

The contest invites Connecticut high school students each year to submit works of art highlighting the message of life-saving organ and tissue donation. This year more than 200 students from 21 high schools participated. It was particularly exciting for East Lyme High School teacher Rachel Michaud to have three students among the winners! 

The awards ceremony kicks off National Donate Life Month and will include remarks from Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Currey, several state representatives, and transplant professionals. Special guest speaker Jaime Lazarus will share her experience as the daughter of a Connecticut woman who died while waiting for a life-saving transplant, and her inspiring journey to increase organ and tissue donation awareness to honor her mother’s memory.      

“Every person who registers as an organ and tissue donor has the power to save lives. It is through awareness opportunities like Donate Life Month and this annual program with Connecticut’s high schools, that we can all celebrate the lifesaving power of donation,” said Allison Mahon, chairperson for Donate Life Connecticut.