Special to The TIMES
Alayah White, third-grade student at Pea Ridge Intermediate School, was named an Artsonia National Artist of the Week.
White's oil pastel drawing of a tree at sunset got the attention of Artsonia reviewers and was placed among 11 other finalists in grades kindergarten through third recently. Beginning this past Wednesday, a national online voting event took place with anyone in America with access to a computer being allowed to vote. The young local artist amassed a winning vote total of 777.
"The recognition that Alayah has attained was due to her hard work and great attitude to pursuing the art process," John McGee, Pea Ridge elementary art teacher, said. "I have to applaud the school and community for getting the word out and encouraging folks to vote for Alayah. Numerous teachers and administrators posted the details of the contest on their Facebook pages and in personal emails. It took every vote to win this highly competitive art award."
Over the past seven years, 14 Pea Ridge elementary students have been nominated for this honor, but Alayah is only the second local student to have actually won. Fifth-graders Evan Anderson and Deete Ingalls were nominated earlier this year.
Alayah will be receiving a $50 gift card from the Dick Blick art supply company and will also receive a plaque from Artsonia at the end of the school year awards assembly. McGee will received a teacher's award of a $100 certificate from Dick Blick as well.
Artsonia receives well over 100,000 artworks per week for display on their web gallery. They host a weekly competition in the kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade and 10th through 12th grade categories with the Dick Blick Company providing the gift cards for the winners. Artsonia established their website in 2000 with local Pea Ridge artists beginning their web gallery in 2009.
Pea Ridge Schools received the 2015 National Leadership Award for having the top ranked gallery in the nation, and is currently still the top ranked site among the 8,000 participating schools in the U.S. The school website is located at www.artsonia.com/pearidge2.
Community on 04/27/2016