Four students at Palmer Catholic Academy in Ponte Vedra Beach were recognized recently through Crayola’s 2016-2017 Empowering Students through Creative Art Exhibition.
Students Sarah DosSantos, Delaney Porazinski, Ramey Neace and Jacob Valenzuela were named finalists in Crayola’s National Art Exhibition. The four finalists will receive a plaque featuring a replica of their original artwork and artist’s statements while all 10 students and art teacher Katie Corrigan will receive $200 in Crayola products.
Open to students from Pre-K to 12th grade, the national contest offered students in each grade level a different challenge related to the theme “What Creative Leadership Means to Me.”
“The finalists’ artwork showed a true connection to the theme, had stunning visual appeal, presented age-appropriate critical thinking and responded to the theme with originality,” said Crayola Art Expo Representative Susan Dobias in a congratulatory letter to Corrigan.
Thousands of pieces were submitted from students across the country, with the top 30 finalists becoming part of the U.S. Department of Education’s permanent curated collection of “globally inspiring” children’s art on display in Washington, D.C.
“We are very grateful to Crayola for such a wonderful opportunity to build creative leadership and encourage self-expression in our student artists,” Principal Linda Earp said.
In addition to the finalists, artwork created by Palmer students Kate Fennell, Isabella Bushkell, Mary Clare Stinneford, Miel Reyes, Jacob Norgart and Sara Valenzuela was selected for inclusion in Crayola’s Education Resources.
“Each submission provided a look into the mind of the student artist,” Dobias said. “We were truly inspired by the powerful ways students connected creative leadership to their personal experiences.”
