And the Winning Postcard is:

After 3 weeks of grueling anticipation, 50 postcard submissions, and mining through thousands of votes....the winner of the postcard race is:

. . . Design #1, Athina.

You know how some contests have that corny line, "Everyone is a winner"?  Well we are going to go down that same path; we were really impressed with the overall response to this contest.  We recived dozens of very good submissions, and on top of that we recieved a lot of votes.  Athina won by a mere 20 votes, both Ray and Adreina were right behind her.

So in the interest of passing the Dream Act we are going to crown Athina as the winner of the prize money and make the top 3 postcards available on the website for people to use as a postcard.

Congrats everyone!!

p.s.  You will get an E-mail from us soon about getting these postcards for your student group!

#1 Athina

For more than 5 years we have been here learning the American values, we are here learning to dream the American dream of a moral and successful life, learning that devoted work and perseverance, caring and participation are part of the commune effort for the success of this great nation.

In the image, the many hands are desperately trying to grasp their goal, their dream of the Dream Act. Many children that have lived here aspire to be able to get an education and continue their lives and dreams here in America because there are so many opportunities here.  The Dream Act is important to those people because it will enable them to fulfill their dream of making a difference here in America.

The 2010 Dream Postcard needs an image that shows how we are reaching and trying to gain our dream that seems impossible, but with enough effort we will fulfill our dream and make a difference. This postcard displays just this and how the Dream Activists have a major role in gaining the Dream Act. With this postcard, the importance of the Dream Act must be shown so others understand how it affects the lives of people. The Dream Act is important to many people that view themselves here and this importance needs to be shown in the 2010 Dream Postcard. This postcard shows this importance.

#2 Ray

I believe art is a form to communicate and express messages as a form of methodology. The concept of my design is to convey a hard working immigrant-American student, who with the many years of being in this country, has been educated and embrace the American culture as its own. Through the use of my imagery, I created an abstract American flag, to express that we recognize it as our own. Instead of the stars being on the flag, I decided to use that space to include “support the Dream Act”, which is the main message we are sending to Washington. The American eagle is also show in the image in a very delicate way next to the face, as if it was the students’ shadow, to continue emphasize us as Americans.

The representation of the flag resting on the students shoulder represents that we accept this nation as our own, and that we are also ready to be recognize as Americans.   The book is another integration to the message, which is a form to portrait us as hard working American students and it will also help promote the newest book by William Perez. I believe the book is a powerful manuscript that contains our voice, struggles and stories. The purpose why I decided to include his book title is for people to buy it, read it, and eventually get more support to pass the Dream Act.

The purpose why I believe my work should be selected, is because it carries a strong and direct message to the viewer. The design was very well thought-out, it stands out, and it will appeal to many people. Through imagery, in order for us to have a bigger impact, it is important that we frame ourselves as Americans, in order to be accepted to this society. Art is another methodology that will impact our movement and record our voices, struggles, and history.

#4 Adreina

The postcard I designed is simplistic in design, and very straightforward. Seeing the joy in the graduating girl’s face as she throws up her graduation cap is the joy I felt when I graduated from high school. Graduating and moving on to college is a dream that many undocumented students are still waiting for.

Fortunately, I am one of those who has that dream accomplished; I am enrolled in a community college. But my brother was denied that right. The quote by Obama during his presidential election is inspiring to both my brother and me. Hopefully, this postcard will help others understand the happiness of a rightful education.