More than 30 Kentuckiana students from grades K-12 were honored tonight at The Henry Clay for their artistic achievement in the Kentucky Derby Festival Student Art Contest. For the sixth year in a row, the event was held in conjunction with the Festival's annual Poster Premiere. The students' winning artworks were also displayed at the poster unveiling event, held prior to the Student Art Contest Awards.
A panel of local artists selected the winners. Of the hundreds of entries, the most popular themes among the winning artwork this year were the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Race, Republic Bank Pegasus Parade, and Thunder Over Louisville. Seven students from Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary under the direction of Sarah Maxwell Miller had winning entries. There were 10 winners from the Catholic school system.
The first-place winners in all divisions receive a 2012 framed Festival Poster by Andre' Foreman, as well as a chance to appear with the "Festival Winners" in the 2012 Republic Bank Pegasus Parade. All winners receive a medallion, certificate, and a Kentucky Derby Festival Student Art Contest winner's pin.
The winning artwork will be on display February 1 - April 27 at Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center and at the Republic Bank Parade Preview Party at the Kentucky Exposition Center on May 1. The Festival has offered this opportunity for area students to showcase their creative skills since 1977.
Division A: Kindergarten & 1st Grade
1st Place: Maggie Tomaszewski - St. Agnes School Teacher: Laura Dant
Divison B: 2nd & 3rd Grades
1st Place: Charles Tandy - Whitney Young Elementary Teacher: Kristine Larson
Division C: 4th & 5th Grades
1st Place: Dylan Boston - Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary Teacher: Sarah Maxwell-Miller
Division D: 6th - 8th Grades
1st Place: Zac Belefield - Barret Traditional Middle Teacher: Margi Garcia
Division E: 9th - 12th Grades
1st Place: Amber Pyle - Pleasure Ridge Park Teacher: Cheryl Wilhoit
Division F: Computer Division
1st Place: Jake Locker - DuPont Manual High School Teacher: Suzanne Sidebottom