NAHMA Names Winnie Mei Poster Contest Winner

• By: admin
• On: 07/13/2016 10:42:37
• In: NAHMA News

Alexandria, Va., July 13, 2016, Winnie Mei, a 10th-grader from Brighton, Mass., has been named the grand prizewinner in the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA)'s 30th annual AHMA Drug-Free Kids poster and art contest. Her artwork will appear on the cover of NAHMA's 2017 calendar. Winnie, 16, also receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for NAHMA's Regulatory Issues fall meeting in October, as well as a scholarship of $2,500 from the NAHMA Educational Foundation. 

The poster contest is open to children and senior residents 55 years or older who live in a community of a NAHMA or a local Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) member company and 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. This year's contest tackled an important issue in many people's lives with the theme, Words That Heal: Stop Bullying, Spread Kindness. 

Nearly 5,000 eligible children, senior and residents with special needs participated in the nationwide contest. Each child winner of the NAHMA contest receives a $1,000 educational scholarship from the NAHMA Educational Foundation. A $1,000 cash award is made in the name of the adult winners to their community for use in purchasing or funding a project from which all of the community's residents will benefit. All winners are also featured in the 2017 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 2017 Drug-Free Kids calendar and receive a $100 scholarship. These participants are in addition to those that were selected as national winners. 

The original winning artwork will be auctioned at the fall meeting, Oct. 23-25, with the proceeds supporting the foundation's scholarship program. Through this program, the NAHMA Educational Foundation awards scholarships and encourages children, teens and adults to set goals, emulate good role models, and live a drug-free lifestyle. 

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 may be ordered beginning in September by visiting the Online Store on NAHMA's website,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, grade/category, community where they live, management company and name of the AHMA that submitted their artwork: 

GRAND PRIZEWINNER 

• Winnie Mei, 16, 10th grade; Charlesview Residences, Brighton, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA

NATIONAL WINNERS

• Anya Baker, 12, sixth grade; NIA Amity Heights Apartments, Bridgeton, N.J.; Interstate Realty Management Company; JAHMA
• Natalia Espinosa, 8, third grade; Cornerstone at Japantown, San Jose, Calif.; EAH Housing Inc.; AHMA-NCH
• Eli Frost, 5, kindergarten; Alco Apartments, Scottsville, Ky.; Alco Management Inc.; SAHMA
• Zy'Erica Haynes, 12, seventh grade; NIA Amity Heights Apartments, Bridgeton, N.J.; Interstate Realty Management Company; JAHMA
• Yusuf Ibrahim, 8, third grade; Charlesview Residences, Brighton, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
• J. Johnson, 13, eighth grade; Pittsburgh, Penn; McCormack Baron Management Services; PAHMA
• Anthony Keshishyan, 10, fifth grade; Gardens on Garfield, Glendale, Calif.; TSA Properties; AHMA-PSW
• Jessica Lauzon, 12, seventh grade; Bay Village, Fall River, Mass.; First Realty Management Corp.; NEAHMA
• Alondra Marrero, 6, kindergarten; Pelham Apartments, Framingham, Mass.; Corcoran Management Company Inc.; NEAHMA
• Jean Mistretta, 73, senior; Linwood Mill, Whitinsville, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA

• Elizabeth Prieto, 15, eighth grade; Southpark Apartments, Columbus, Ohio; American Apartment Management; MAHMA

• Alton Stuckey, 45, special needs; Spring Villa Apartments, North Providence, R.I.; WinnResidential; NEAHMA
• Jeziel Vázquez, 11, sixth grade; Villas de Manatí, Manatí, Puerto Rico; Martinal Management Corp.; SAHMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Adyiah Burnaby, 17, 11th grade; Council Groves Apartments, Missoula, Mont.; Tamarack Property Management Company; Rocky AHMA
• Ciondra Craig, 12, seventh grade; Winnsboro Arms, Winnsboro, S.C.; Southern Development Management Company Inc.; SAHMA
• Juanita Gallegos, 44, special needs; Country Club Village Apartments, San Antonio, Texas; Prospera Housing & Community Services; SWAHMA
• Savorahan Powell, 65, senior; Opportunities Towers I & II, Philadelphia, Penn; Community Realty Management; PennDel AHMA
• Dimfred Rodriguez, 15, ninth grade; Marie Gardens Apartments, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico; Fernando L. Sumaza & Co. Inc.; SAHMA
• Bette Shapiro, 71, senior; Ocean Park Villas, Santa Monica, Calif.; G&K Management Company; AHMA-PSW
• Tracy Smith, 53, special needs; Stonecroft Apartments, Hagerstown, Md.; Interstate Realty Management Company; Mid-Atlantic AHMA 

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. Founded in 1990, NAHMA's membership today includes the industry's most distinguished multifamily owners and management companies. Visitwww.nahma.org for more information. 

About the NAHMA Educational 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 www.nahma.org/about/educational-foundation. 

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