Christian Rivera, a 10th grade Questar III student in Ms. Dedeo’s class at Columbia High School, had an original piece of artwork displayed at Siena College in January as part of the 28th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and Nonviolent Social Change.
Rivera’s piece was one of 30 from Columbia and 500 from over 60 schools in the Capital Region to be included in the Art and Essay Exhibition.
The piece uses words that highlight Dr. King’s 
message of tolerance, love, equality, and peace to create a picture of King in front of an American flag holding a flower. Rivera said it was an honor to have his art chosen for the exhibition. This is just one of many ways Questar III students in district-based classes are able to be part of the school community.
According to Siena College, the Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and Nonviolent Social Change was established by Siena College in 1988 to preserve the legacy of the nonviolent human rights movement as it was expressed in the life and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and has been continued after his death by Coretta Scott King. This lecture series is sponsored as an activity of Siena College and explores how problems such as racism, sexism, classism, militarism and prejudice in our nation and throughout the world can be confronted effectively through dynamic efforts informed by social justice and nonviolent action.
