Pea Ridge Intermediate School artists swept all three of their grade divisions after the Arkansas Department of Wildlife and Conservation announced the winners of the 2018 Wildlife of Arkansas State Exhibition and Competition.
The 10th annual statewide contest drew a record number of entrant from across the state with more than 3,000 artworks sent in for judging. For the first time in school history, Pea Ridge Intermediate won first place in all three of their grades, 3rd through 5th.
Third-grader Collin Little took first with his oil pastel drawing of a mockingbird, with fifth-grader Lynden Osborne awarded first place for her glue and pastel drawing of an alligator. Fourth-grader Kayden Fowler was a first place winner for her charcoal drawing of a horned owl with fourth-grader Michael Vela taking second place for his oil pastel drawing of a deer. Little was a repeat winner after earning a second place as a first grader in the contest in 2016.
All four winners will be given their awards on May 4 in Little Rock at the Witt Stephens Nature Center. First place winners will receive $100 and a trophy; second place winners receive $50 and a certificate. Their artwork will be featured in the 2019 Arkansas Conservation and Wildlife Calendar.
In addition to the awards and calendar appearance, the artworks will be placed into a traveling art exhibit which will tour the state from May through August. The exhibit will be shown at the Stephens Center in Little Rock until June when it travels to be placed on exhibit in Jonesboro at the Crowley's Ridge Nature Center through July. July will see the artwork on display at the River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, with the final stop at the Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff Aug. 1 through 23.
Pea Ridge has had multiple winners in the state contest since the first year of competition in 2009. Sixty-three students have won awards during that time span.
Intermediate School art teacher John McGee will accompany the students with their parents to Little Rock on May 4, a trip that will also include a tour of the state capitol as well as other locations in the city.
Community on 04/18/2018