Riverhead Students Design T-Shirts That Promote "Positive Messages"

What started as an after-school project to design T-shirts has turned into something bigger for three Aquebogue Elementary School fourth-graders. Ce’Ahnie Khan, Kaylen Lockhart and Rebecca Bassemir recently created the “Peaceful Hands T-shirt Company” on their own to make T-shirts that promote positive messages like friendship and understanding.

After teachers and students noticed the T-shirts, the idea began to spread.

“I saw these girls wearing their ‘Peaceful Hands’ T-shirts and asked them when I was going to get mine,” Aquebogue Principal Phil Kent said in a statement. “This discussion led to a decision to present a ‘Peaceful Hands’ T-shirt to each of the students chosen to read their writing at our monthly school assembly in November."

Kent said he purchased the T-shirts for the girls using their designs and had the three fourth-graders hand them out as part of the monthly school assembly. The girls have said that they don't want to make the "company" about selling shirts, but empowering others, and encouraged other students to design their own shirts.

“The students, teachers and staff were so moved by the presentation given by these girls at the assembly,” Mr. Kent said. “We all had tears in our eyes. These are the fruits of our efforts and the fact that it was student-generated made these efforts and their presentation very touching to all of us.”