Sedona, AZ — August 14, 2025 — Former Sedona middle school student Maryam Jaffe, 14, has been awarded the Grand Prize in the Classic Art Category (ages 12–14) of the Sister Cities International Young Artists & Authors Showcase. Her winning artwork, Creating Global Friendships, earned her a $1,000 award and international recognition.
Maryam’s entry was endorsed by the Sedona Sister Cities Association while she attended Red Rock Middle School. Now living in Ashland, Oregon, she will begin high school this fall.
A self-taught artist, Maryam has been passionate about art and drawing for most of her life. “As a child, I was always creating, building, and working on different projects,” she said. She also enjoys volleyball, skateboarding, creative writing, and traveling. This past summer, she visited England and France.
Her artwork reflects the 2025 competition theme, “Friendship: The Heartbeat of Global Peace.” In her artist’s statement, Maryam wrote:
“By creating friendships across the world and seeing similarities rather than differences, we will move further towards global peace. My hope is that people can feel this message through my artwork.”
The Sister Cities International Young Artists & Authors Showcase is an annual global competition encouraging youth to express their ideas about citizen diplomacy and cross-cultural connection through visual and literary arts.
“Maryam’s talent and vision truly embody the spirit of global friendship,” said Ricki Garrett, President and CEO of Sister Cities International. “Her work is both beautiful and deeply meaningful.