By: Maria Allard | Warren Weekly | Published March 5, 2024
WARREN — For comic strip fans, there’s a new artist in town.
Beer Middle School eighth grade student Nasra Abdullah is the talent behind a new cartoon panel currently featured in digital format. Beer is part of the Warren Consolidated Schools district.
Abdullah was a winner in the Meemic Foundation Club’s Masterpieces annual student art contest. She is one of 50 student winners in Michigan, and all their original artwork was published in the Foundation’s digital Friendship Edition Comic Book, released Feb. 29. The Meemic Foundation Club is nonprofit.
On the morning of Feb. 28 at school, Abdullah was recognized by Principal Xavier Whitacre, sponsoring teacher Sarah Kama and Rick Pinkos, managing director of the Meemic Foundation’s Randahl Agency, which has offices in Warren, Sterling Heights and Birmingham. Pinkos presented her with a certification and a writing tablet.
“We’re just so happy to have a winner,” Pinkos said.
“It was totally unexpected,” Abdullah said.
This year’s contest theme was “What Makes a Good Friend?” When creating her piece, Abdullah’s inspiration came from her two closest friends.
“I drew everything from scratch,” said the student, who studied Disney illustrations to prepare. “The process took so long.”
Abdullah’s colorful drawings touch on bullying and the value of defending your friends.
“It’s important to have friends,” Abdullah said. “You can have allies who understand you and who can help you. You can be yourself with them.”
Kama, Beer’s restorative practice facilitator, was the sponsoring teacher of the art contest. Although Kama doesn’t have Abdullah as a student, the two have bonded through the Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) program, of which Abdullah is a leader.
WEB is a school orientation and transition program designed to make new students comfortable as they adjust to middle school. The program trains eighth grade students as mentors to serve as WEB leaders for the sixth grade and seventh grade students. Kama encouraged Abdullah to enter the contest.
“She’s always super friendly and has helped me out with new students,” Kama said.
The school also received a $500 grant to be used to fund the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) incentives, including outdoor equipment, games and snacks.
Meemic Insurance Agency, the Randahl Agency, was founded 46 years ago by Warren Consolidated Schools teacher Fran Randahl, who has since died. Randahl’s son-in-law, Pinkos, and granddaughter, Aubrey Schram, now run the agency. Meemic offers discounted automobile, home and boat insurance strictly for the educational community.
“Meemic was founded 30 years ago to help schools and teachers enhance their educational practices,” Pinkos said. “They periodically give grants. Teachers have an opportunity to apply for all kinds of funding and grant opportunities. It’s giving back to the educational community.”
To view the winning entries, including Abdullah’s, log onto meemic.com/the-meemic-foundation and click on the “recipients” heading.