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NAHMA Names Ani Keshishyan National Poster Contest Winner

Alexandria, Va., Aug. 8, 2018 - Ani Keshishyan, a ninth-grader from Glendale, Calif., has been named the grand prizewinner in NAHMA's annual AHMA Drug-Free Kids poster and art contest.
 
The talented artist's creation will appear on the cover of NAHMA's 2019 calendar. Ani, 14, also receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for NAHMA's Biannual Top Issues in Affordable Housing fall conference, Oct. 21-23, as well as a scholarship of $2,500 from the NAHMA Educational Foundation.
 
The poster contest is open to children and elderly residents 55 years or older who live in a community of a NAHMA or a local Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) member company, as well as residents with special needs who live in a permanent supportive housing community or Section 811 community of a NAHMA or a local AHMA member company.
 
The underlying message for the annual contest is always a drug-free theme but NAHMA wanted to open the door for more avenues of expression, so a subtheme is incorporated into the poster contest. The subtheme for 2018 is Hope Is in Bloom: Nurturing Our Community.
 
Nearly 5,000 eligible residents participated in the nationwide contest. 
 
Each national winner of the NAHMA contest—regardless of entry category—receives a $1,000 educational scholarship from the NAHMA Educational Foundation. All winners are also featured as their own month in the 2019 calendar.
 
Additionally, participants in the annual art contests held by the local AHMAs are eligible to be selected as Regional AHMA Art Contest Honorable Mentions. Those selected for this distinction will have their artwork featured in a special section of the NAHMA 2019 Drug-Free Kids calendar and receive a $100 scholarship. These participants are in addition to those selected as national winners.
 
The original winning artwork will be auctioned at the Educational Foundation gala, Oct. 22, with the proceeds supporting the foundation's scholarship program. 
 
For the contest, the artwork is divided into seven categories with winners selected from each of the following: kindergarten-first grade, second-third grades, fourth-sixth grades, seventh-ninth grades, 10th-12th grades, seniors and residents with special needs. Only students are eligible for the grand prize.
 
Calendars go on sale beginning in September and are available by visiting NAHMA's Online Store at www.nahma.org. The cost is $5.50, which is a Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture allowable project expense.
 
The following lists this year's national program winners, with their ages at time of submission, grade completed in June 2018/contest category, community where they live, management company and name of the AHMA that submitted their artwork: 
 
GRAND PRIZEWINNER 
  • Ani Keshishyan, 14; ninth grade; The Gardens on Garfield, Glendale, Calif.; Thomas Safran & Associates; AHMA-PSW
 
NATIONAL WINNERS
  • Ruth Behan, 44; senior; HDC Foundation, New Port Richey, Fla.; The Columbia Property Group; SAHMA 
  • Freya Camp, 7; second grade; The Arroyo at Baker Ranch, Lake Forest, Calif.; Solari Enterprises; AHMA-PSW 
  • Vladik Camp, 9; fourth grade; The Arroyo at Baker Ranch, Lake Forest, Calif.; Solari Enterprises; AHMA-PSW
  • Aubrey Frimpong, 8; third grade; Stratton Hill Park, Worcester, Mass.; Beacon Communities; NEAHMA
  • Anthony Keshishyan, 12; seventh grade; The Gardens on Garfield, Glendale, Calif.; Thomas Safran & Associates; AHMA-PSW
  • Marc Lambert, 65; senior; Hillcrest Elderly Apartments, Cincinnati, Ohio; Benchmark Management Corporation; MAHMA
  • Jessica Lauzon, 14; ninth grade; Bay Village Apartments, Fall River, Mass.; First Realty Management; NEAHMA 
  • Winnie Mei, 18; 12th grade; Charlesview Residences, Brighton, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
  • Jean Mistretta, 75; senior; The Linwood Mill, Whitinsville, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
  • Arian Saeidi, 7; first grade; The Arroyo at Baker Ranch, Lake Forest, Calif.; Solari Enterprises; AHMA-PSW
  • Arya Saeidi, 12; fifth grade; The Arroyo at Baker Ranch, Lake Forest, Calif.; Solari Enterprises; AHMA-PSW
  • Maura Sawyer, 67; senior; Framingham Green Apartments, Framingham, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
  • Scarlet Sykes, 16; 10th grade; Paradise Shadows Apartments; Biltmore Properties; AHMA-PSW 
 
HONORABLE MENTIONS 
  • Mia Cortez, 11; sixth grade; West End Baptist Manor, San Antonio, Texas; McDougal Properties; SWAHMA 
  • Nyah Degravier, 8; third grade; Houston House Apartments, Victoria, Texas; Prospera Housing Community Services; SWAHMA
  • Jada Garrett, 9; third grade; Winteringham Village, Toms River, N.J.; The Michaels Organization; JAHMA
  • Nahzirah Oliver, 8; second grade; Beckett Gardens, Philadelphia, Pa.; Community Reality Management; PennDel AHMA
  • TyJanique Randolph, 10; fourth grade; Country Place Apartments, Henrico, Va.; Amurcon Realty Company; Mid-Atlantic AHMA
  • Mariah Schoening, 15; ninth grade; Evergreen Manors, Altoona, Pa.; Improved Dwellings of Altoona Inc.; PAHMA
  • Jacob Sedam-Simpson, 14; eighth grade; Featherstone Apartments, Council Bluffs, Iowa; Seldin Company; AHMA IA/NE
  • Elliot Seymour, 18; 12th grade; Council Groves Apartments, Missoula, Mont.; Tamarack Property Management Company; Rocky AHMA 
  • Patricia Therese Valbuena, 17; 12th grade; Oak Court Apartments, Palo Alto, Calif.; Palo Alto Housing; AHMA-NCH
 
About NAHMA
NAHMA is the leading voice for affordable housing management, advocating on behalf of multifamily property managers and owners whose mission is to provide quality affordable housing. NAHMA supports legislative and regulatory policy that promotes the development and preservation of decent and safe affordable housing, is a vital resource for technical education and information and fosters strategic relations between government and industry. NAHMA's membership represents 75 percent of the affordable housing industry, and includes its most distinguished multifamily owners and management companies. Visit www.nahma.orgfor more information.
 
About the Foundation
The NAHMA Educational Foundation is organized and operated exclusively as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Founded in October 1994, the NAHMA Educational Foundation works to assist residents of federally subsidized housing as they strive to enhance their lives, job opportunities and children's futures. Its mission is also to enhance the livability and standing of communities managed by NAHMA member companies nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.nahma.org/about/educational-foundation.
 
Media Contact
Jennifer Jones, Manager of Communications and Public Relations
National Affordable Housing Management Association
703-683-8630, ext. 100

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