{"id":265,"date":"2019-04-26T13:57:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T17:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amerantbank.com\/newsroom\/?p=265"},"modified":"2022-02-22T14:01:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T19:01:17","slug":"amerant-bank-announces-student-winners-of-2019-zoolenssm-photography-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amerantbank.com\/newsroom\/community\/amerant-bank-announces-student-winners-of-2019-zoolenssm-photography-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Amerant Bank Announces Student Winners of 2019 Zoolens Photography Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CORAL GABLES, FL. <\/strong>\u2013 Amerant Bank<\/a> (NASDAQ: AMTB and AMTBB), one of the largest banks headquartered in Florida (formerly known as Mercantil Bank), announced the student finalists and winners of its recognized 2019 ZoolensSM<\/sup> Photography Project <\/strong>during an award ceremony held at the Bank\u2019s Headquarters in Coral Gables on April 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcomed by Miguel Palacios, Chief Business Officer of Amerant, and Beatriz Junco-Gonzalez, Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility Manager at Amerant, more than 100 guests were in attendance to celebrate the students, including families, contest sponsors, judges and Zoo Miami\u2019s Director of Communications and Nikon\u00ae Ambassador, Ron Magill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWatching the Zoolens Photography Project grow throughout the years in the community has been a true joy and we are proud of the hundreds of submissions we receive from the talented students who participate in the contest,\u201d said Millar Wilson, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Amerant. \u201cThis year\u2019s talent was no exception and thanks to our partners – Ron Magill, Zoo Miami, the Zoological Society of Florida, Pitman Photo Supply and Nikon \u2013 we are able to continue making this engaging program a reality and an art program that local students so eagerly anticipate every school year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 2010 and developed in partnership with Zoo Miami<\/a> and the Zoological Society of Florida, the Bank\u2019s photography contest was created to encourage and increase appreciation for photography and wildlife amongst middle school students from both public and private schools in Miami-Dade County. With a deep commitment to supporting the community and the arts, Amerant invited students to visit Zoo Miami to creatively photograph wildlife and submit their favorite animal photo during the month-long contest that ran from February 1st through March 1st. Hundreds of submissions were received from students across the county for a chance to win a range of prizes and up to $2,000 in cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2019 photography contest held a kick-off event on February 1st at Zoo Miami in celebration of the project, where students joined noted wildlife photographer Ron Magill for an exciting behind-the- scenes tour and wildlife photography tips. Special guests Miss Florida Taylor Tyson and Diana Pombo, semifinalist of NBC’s World of Dance Season 1, were also onsite for a meet and greet experience with student participants. Pitman Photo Supply representatives provided access to loaner digital Nikon\u00ae camera equipment for up to 30 students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s immensely rewarding to see the talent in each of the students\u2019 submissions, the thought behind each photo and caption, and I\u2019m proud to be a part of such an inspiring program that bolsters the love of photography and wildlife within the local students in our community,\u201d added Magill. \u201cThis year\u2019s submissions were competitive and it\u2019s exciting to see this contest continue to expand and successfully expand over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submissions were reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges based on composition, artistic merit, technical ability and title. The panel of judges included Ron Magill, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Patrick Farrell, internationally-acclaimed photo artist Mar\u00eda Mart\u00ednez-Ca\u00f1as, New World School of the Arts visual arts professor and curator Rosario Mart\u00ednez-Ca\u00f1as and Miss Florida Taylor Tyson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the ceremony, the finalists\u2019 photographs were celebrated as Magill announced the student winners and honorable mentions, as well as the Top Teacher award given to the teacher with the most student submissions, Facebook Fans\u2019 Choice for the photo with the most likes as well as Employees\u2019 Choice winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 First Place: <\/strong>Olivia Dignman from Palmer Trinity School with her photo titled, \u201cEvery Line Counts in a Memory,\u201d winning the grand prize of a $2,000 Amerant savings account, Nikon camera and a North American Nature Photography Association membership
\u2022 Second Place: <\/strong>Samuel Cruz from Southwood Middle School with his photo titled, \u201cPortrait of an American Symbol,\u201d winning a $1,500 Amerant savings account, Nikon camera as well as the North American Nature Photography Association membership
\u2022 Third Place: <\/strong>Marianna Rivas from Southwood Middle School with her photo titled, \u201cThe Crowned Prince,\u201d winning a $1,000 Amerant savings account, a professional Nikon camera and a student membership to the North American Nature Photography Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Honorable Mentions: <\/strong>Each of these students won a $100 Visa gift card<\/p>\n\n\n\n

o Ashley Berestycki ,from Doral Academy Prep, with her photo titled, \u201cSnake Eyes\u201d
o Kevin Bustamante, from Doral Academy Prep, with his photo titled, \u201cPiercing Gaze\u201d 
o Maria Grant, from Southwood Middle School, with her photo titled, \u201cFocus\u201d
o Sophia Regalado-McCoy, from South Miami K-8 Center, with her photo titled, \u201cPhotogenic Bird\u201d
o Gianna Rodriguez, from Doral Academy Prep, with her photo titled, \u201cTangled in Envy\u201d
o Kaylee Leidel, from South Miami K-8 Center, with her photo titled, \u201cEvil Eye\u201d
o Jose Ramirez, from Doral Academy Prep, with his photo titled, \u201cInto the Rainforest\u201d 
o Andrea Villamizar, from Doral Academy Prep, with her photo titled, \u201cI Got My Own Water Gun”
o Gabriella Nassiff, from Doral Academy Prep, with her photo titled, “Frizzy Hair Don’t Care”
o Andrea Tomasso, from Doral Academy Prep, with her photo titled, \u201cDon\u2019t Get It Twisted\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n