By Jack Orloff
Austin ISD students' artwork is going big after four students were selected to have their creations displayed on billboards across the city.
The pieces to be displayed were announced last week when Austin ISD officials visited four campuses to award winners of the annual Youth Art Month Design Contests.
Bowie sophomore Audrey Hagan said she was very surprised when they announced her name as one of the students’ selected.
"I am completely shocked," Hagan said. "I did not think my art would go anywhere, so this is really amazing and really special for me to have my artwork displayed like that."
Paul Kretchmer, instructional coordinator for visual arts, said the Youth Art Month Design Contest is a way to have students' voices heard through their art.
"It's a way to put a public side to the importance of what the arts do for us," Kretchmer said. "Having that opportunity to put it on a billboard in large format where people can really see it gives that voice an opportunity to be heard."
This is the first year the billboards will feature art from elementary, middle and high school. The billboards will also advertise Austin ISD's Student Art Exhibition at the AISD Performing Arts Center in March.
In addition to the billboard placements, one winner at the elementary level will have their design placed on a T-shirt. The T-shirt winner will celebrate the event with a spring t-shirt sale fundraiser at their campus.
The full list of winners are,
- Elementary Billboard Winner- McKenzie B, 3rd grade at Davis Elementary
- Middle School Billboard Winner- Alonna T, 8th grade at Burnet Middle School
- High School Billboard Winner- Audrey H, 10th grade at Bowie High School
- Elementary T-Shirt Design Winner- Mary H, 5th grade at Hill Elementary.
The locations of the billboards will be determined in the coming weeks.
Student award winners will also display their work at the Austin ISD's Student Art Exhibition at the AISD Performing Arts Center from March 1-31.