Young artist has aspirations

Erwin Middle School art teacher Leslie Hudson-Tolles, called Mrs. H-T by her students, helps Shelby White with project. Photo by Kathy Chaffin, Salisbury Post

Shelby White's winning entry in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest featured an eye with the world as its iris superimposed over a blue and green peace sign. Submitted Photo

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

It was Shelby White's art teacher at Erwin Middle School who told her about the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

The art contest was among several ideas Leslie Hudson-Tolles — called Mrs. H-T by her students — gave for an art assignment. The theme for the contest was "The Power of Peace," and students could not include any words on their entries.

"You just had to express what peace meant to you through a poster," Shelby says.

She had already drawn an eye for art class and decided to do one for the contest with the world as its iris. "The world inside the eye means that if we can all unite as one and just work together," she says, "then we can have world peace and be happy."

Behind part of the eye is a blue and green circle with a peace sign on it. Shelby, who is an eighth-grader at Erwin, says she used blue and green pencils to show the colors fading from darker to lighter shades.

"I put the peace sign there so people would know what I was talking about," she says.

Shelby says she drew the poster a couple of times, using her own eyes to go by before she was pleased with the results.

Hudson-Tolles was very encouraging. "During the process, she would give me advice," Shelby says. "She told me she was really surprised at what I drew and that she was really proud of me."

Shelby's mother, Celena White, was also supportive. "She said it was really good and that not many people could come up with that idea," Shelby says. "She said it was unique."

Rockwell Lions Club members apparently agreed. They picked her poster from six entries as the winner.

She was recognized at the club's Jan. 19 meeting, where she received a $25 gift card of her choice and a balloon donated by Happy's Farm.

Her mother accompanied her to the meeting. Also attending were Hudson-Tolles, Erwin Principal Kristi Rhone and Assistant Principal Dr. Julie Joslin.

Shelby's statement accompanying her entry is: "Peace is patience, compassion, 'more than meets the eye' ... UNITY. Peace lies beneath what is seen. To achieve what is so greatly desired, we have got to get together as one.

"The world, with its conflicts recognized, will be able to see if through the same perspective. Then we will have the one thing we want so badly that we never seem to get: PEACE."

As the club winner, Shelby's poster went on to compete against winning entries from seven counties in the Lions International District 31-E competition, judged by artist Dempsey Essick of Welcome. Winning posters were selected based on originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme.

As the second-place winner, Shelby and her family were invited to attend the Lions Clubs International Mid-Winter Convention held at Holiday Inn in Salisbury on Jan. 23. District Governor Theresa Matthews presented her a $1,500 scholarship to the college of her choice, a Dempsey Essick print and a plaque.

Though she plans to continue with her artwork, Shelby's first career choice is to be a motivational speaker and advocate for the developmentally disabled.

"I cannot stand for people to say 'retarded,' " she says. "I'll stand up and confront anyone who says it ... They're people, and they're smarter than most of us."

Shelby says singing is also among her aspirations. She sang at Anderson Grove Baptist Church in Stanly County and placed second in Erwin Middle's talent show last year with her rendition of Taylor Swift's "White Horse."

Coincidentally, she and her family were seated at the Lions Club convention with a public speaking coach whose wife gives singing lessons. Shelby says her mother plans to call them to arrange for lessons.

She's excited about going to East Rowan High School next year and hopes to go to Appalachian State University or Pfeiffer University when she graduates.

Born in Stanly County, Shelby attended Badin Elementary School before moving to Rockwell after her parents' divorce and started middle school at Erwin. Her father, Keith White, continues to live in Albemarle.

Shelby has a younger sister, Ashlie, who is in the fifth grade, and a younger brother, Steven, who is in the sixth grade.

An avid reader, Shelby's favorite book is the one she's reading now: "The Time Traveler's Wife."

"Just about every other hour, you can find me in my room reading," she says. "Online isn't that bad, but I prefer to read real books."

She also enjoys watching movies, and her all-time favorite is "A Walk to Remember," based on the romance novel by Nicholas Sparks.

Shelby absolutely loves music, especially songs by Taylor Swift.

She has one pet, a Great Dane named Sinbad. "He's really loving," Shelby says. "He'll bark at strangers, but he wouldn't hurt a fly."

When asked who has influenced her life the most, she says her mother and her grandmother, Jewel Morton of Stanly County.

Even though she's only 32, Shelby says her mother has had two strokes and is still suffering from Bell's palsy, a temporary facial paralysis.

"She handled it really well," Shelby says. "She didn't mourn over it a long time. She got over it and looked at the bright side. I would hope to be as strong."

Her grandmother influenced her life, she says, by taking her to church every Sunday. "She taught me the difference between right and wrong, and I just kind of follow her example, the way she is and what she does."

Shelby says her three best friends — Britney Cochran, Caitlin Richardson and Matthew Hunter — have also influenced her in positive ways.

"I've been through a lot of ups and downs," she says, "and they've just always been there for me ... I used to be like way too sensitive, but they've taught me to kind of look past the silly stuff."

She also has a boyfriend, Zachary Burroughs.

Shelby is a member of the track team at Erwin, participating in shot put events. She says she makes pretty good grades.

Her favorite teacher is Elizabeth Cook, who teaches her honors course.

"She's always calm," Shelby says, "and she'll listen to what I have to say."

When asked to describe herself, Shelby says she's a little awkward, but fun.

"Sometimes a lot is expected of me," she says, "and I work really hard to please everybody, but I've kind of gotten over that. You can't do that all the time.

"If you're doing irresponsible things, I'm going to tell you about it," Shelby says. "But I can joke around and have fun, and even if I'm upset, I still smile every day."

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.