This holiday season, the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) was busy spreading cheer throughout the community. Through numerous projects, members gave back to the less fortunate while creating masterful works of art.

In an annual tradition, NAHS hosted two holiday fundraisers. First, select students got the opportunity to paint gift cards, which were then auctioned online around Thanksgiving. The artists were put up to the challenge to recreate a famous painting on a small gift card. This year artist and sophomore Ursula Ratkiewicz tested her artistic abilities by recreating the famous painting The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali on her card. Ratkiewicz shared, “I think it’s important to participate in these NAHS fundraisers because a few hours of work can be used to make another person/family in our community have a happier holiday.” Proceeds from this event all donated to Lynbrook families in need.

The second event, which all members participated in, was an ornament sale. Each artist received a wooden ornament, which was then be transformed into miniature masterpieces depicting holiday scenes. In the words of NAHS Advisor Michael Kunz, the works must be of “finest, finest” quality to live up to the clubs’ high standards. The ornaments were showcased on a mini Christmas tree and sold at Waverly Park’s winter concert. Sophomore member Madison Crofts shared, “I really enjoy being a part of NAHS because it allows me to exercise my artistic side for great causes.”

Another cause the NAHS recently participated in was the Memory Project. Each student received a photo of a child from a Colombian orphanage. The task was to create a portrait of the child, which would later be sent back to him/her as a gift. For many of the children, the portrait would be one of his/her only possessions. NAHS Treasurer and senior Angelina Chirchella was one of the students who participated in this project. She stated, “NAHS during the holiday season is a very special place. I really do enjoy giving back to people, and all the projects allow us to do that.” She continued, expressing her pride in the work NAHS has been doing: “ This season really allows us to create artwork for really good causes.