Semifinalists and finalists of the 4th Anniversary Photo Contest

"America Seen Through Macedonian Eyes"

Winner:
Mihajlo Naumovski

Caption: L.A. Staples Center and Hollywood stars (kids playing)

Finalist: Kiril Gjorgov

Semifinalist: Tome Kolev

Caption: My idea of the picture is how Macedonians follow the trend of shopping in America.

Caption: A closeup of skyscrapers,
that makes a landscape of a modern city.

Finalist: Andrijana Naumovska

Caption: Skopje like New York

Semifinalist: Jadranka Jovanovska

Finalist: Ana Velkova

Caption: Shot of 42nd and St. New York (Times Square)
One of the busiest McDonald's locations in the world.

Caption: My idea is to represent the Macedonians and the Americans

through children. In spite of some differences, they could be good friends.

Semifinalst: Elena Prendzova

Caption: NY via SK: tourists - connection between the nations

Semifinalist: Natalija Jovanovik

Finalist: Jovanovski Mihajlo

Caption: Incontrovertible.
There must be better ways to look at the World.

Caption: Chrystler Building among the NY skyline at night.
I love this building, as great bacon of orientation for lost visitors,
like me when I was in NYC.

Semifinalist: Angela Stojanovska

Finalist:Ekatarina Labovik

Caption: Road to Freedom, power, literature, rock music...road to America!

Caption: New York feeling!

Semifinalist: Jovan Ambarkov

Caption: My brother and Ronald McDonald remind me of America

American Corner Skopje 4th Anniversary Photo Contest!

If you love challenges, grab your digital camera and take a look around you. Take a long hard look!

Is there anything you see in your own country that reminds you of America? What would that be? Capture that moment!
Use your own imagination to say “America” with one photo.

This contest is open for everyone: no matter your age, nor whether you like taking photographs as your hobby or you take photography a bit more seriously.
Your photo might be selected and exhibited in the Corner at the celebration of our 4th Anniversary. Send your photos to the American Corner Skopje (acskopje.photocontest@gmail.com) until February 12th, 2009!!

To take part, the photos:

• Must be taken by the contestant without anyone’s help in the Calendar Year 2009
  
  
• Must be submitted in digital format. Printed photographs will not be accepted.
  
  
• Should not exceed 4 mega pixels per image. Desired resolution is: 1500 x 2100 pixel dimensions or a photo taken with a 3.2 megapixel camera at the largest image setting.
  
  
• Should be submitted as jpg images.
  
  
• Minor digital enhancements to crop, filter and correct the photo are allowed, but images that have been judged to be significantly altered will be disqualified.
  
  
• One contestant can submit only one photograph
  
  
• The Photo Contest Application Page should be sent as well (request one on acskopje.photocontest@gmail.com)
  
  
• Entries should be submitted no later than
  February 12th, 2009 on acskopje.photocontest@gmail.com

All contest entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

* Topic Relevance – Is the photo an obvious illustration of the Photo Contest theme?

* Composition/Arrangement - Are the objects in the photo arranged in a meaningful, pleasing manner or are they chaotic?

* Creativity - Does the photographer show some creative thought or original idea in the making of this image?


Received images will be divided into three categories, based on the contestant’s age:

- category 1: up to 19 years
- category 2: 20 - 35 years
- category 3: over 35 years
All winners (2 will be selected for each category) will receive special prizes and signed certificates by the US Ambassador Philip Reeker.

The winners will be announced at the American Corner Skopje’s 4th anniversary on February 18th, 2009.


Deadline for submitting entries: February 12th


Download the application HERE ( Macedonia US Embassy Website)

American Corner Skopje monthly program

American Corner Bitola monthly program

American Corner Tetovo monthly program

Black History Month

What you need to know about African-American History Month


Q: Why Afro-American (Black) History Month?
A: The true facts of the contributions of Afro-Americans to the discovery, pioneering, development and continuance of America have not properly and adequately been presented in the textbooks, media and other communications media. Indeed, for the most part, Blacks have been left out of the written record about America. The fact that some changes have been made in recent years points to the need for a fuller report about Afro-American contribution. The designation of February as Afro-American History Month is an attempt by ASALH to remedy this neglect and provide for all Americans the information needed for creative and empathetic understanding about Afro-Americans in the nation.

Q: Who started the Afro-American history celebration?
A: In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard Ph.D. who 11 years earlier had founded the Association for the Study of Afro- American Life and History, initiated Negro History Week. In those early days, the words Afro and Black were seldom used. It was Dr. Woodson's hope that through this special observance, all Americans would be reminded of their ethnic roots, and that togetherness in the United States' racial groups would develop out of a mutual respect.

Q: Why was a period in February chosen for the Afro-American (Black) History Observance?
A: Dr. Woodson was keenly conscious of symbolism in the American psyche. He wisely chose for Negro History Week the period of February which contains the birthdays of Frederick Douglassand Abraham Lincoln. From its initiation, observance of Afro-American History Month has involved many ethnic groups, not only Black Americans.

Q: Why was the name changed to Afro-American (Black) History?
A: Bowing to pressure from young delegates to its Cincinnati, Ohio, Convention in 1972, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, Inc. changed its name to the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, Inc. This name change focused on the new thinking by Black Americans and indicated both the new recognition of African background and the Black person's appreciation of himself as an individual, a citizen and a contributor to the American scene.

Read more...
http://www.africanamericans.com/AAHistoryMonth.htm

First Anniversary

American Corner Tetovo Celebrates First Anniversary
Jan-14.-09

American Corner Tetovo celebrated its first anniversary with speeches by Ambassador Philip Reeker; Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska, the Minister of Culture; and Hazbi Lika, the Mayor of Tetovo.

The crowd—American Corner members, other distinguished guests, Peace Corps volunteers, and local residents-spilled out of the room and into the hallway. Ambassador Reeker praised the Corner, which now has more than 1,300 members, for “taking a small slice of a building and creating an American presence that far exceeds its physical

space.” The Minister of Culture emphasized that the Corner has built a stronger bridge between the U.S. and the Republic of Macedonia, especially by providing opportunities for high school students to
interact with American culture. The celebration ended with performances by students from Tetovo’s music high school.