Officials with the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission have announced the winners of the
Oklahoma 2011 International Aviation Art Contest. The students will be recognized for their artwork during a 2 p.m. ceremony at the state Capitol in the Governor’s Blue Room March 23.
Director of Aeronautics Victor Bird will serve as master of ceremony; Gov. Mary Fallin will provide remarks and present certificates to each of the winners.
“The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission congratulates all of the winners in this year’s art contest,” Bird said. “There were many terrific entries this year, which shows that our state is blessed with a lot of talented young people. We also salute their parents and teachers who regularly encourage them to excel to even greater heights!”
In addition to the certificates, first-place winners in each age category will receive a check for $100; second-place winners $75; and third-place winners $50.
The international art contest encourages youth from around the world, ages 6 to 17, to reflect on aviation by designing a piece of art based on the year’s chosen theme. This year’s theme is “50 Years of Human Space Flight.”
In the Junior category, ages 6 to 9, Thomas Buchanan from Newalla, who attends Virginia Smith Elementary in Harrah, took home first prize. Braden Rodgers and Brenna Rodgers, twin brother and sister from Meeker Elementary School, finished in second and third place, respectively. Buchanan and the Rodgers twins also placed in the 2010 aviation art contest.
Micah Hutchins, from Willard Grade Center in Ada, was the first-place winner in the Intermediate category, ages 10-13. Kristen Prewett and Falon Howell, both from Duncan Middle School, took second and third, respectively.
In the Senior category, ages 14-17, two students from Lewis and Clark Middle School in Tulsa garnered two of the top three spots: Russell Hill finished in first place, while Jonathan Fiscus placed third. Reece McQueen of Langley, who attends Ketchum Middle School, took second place. McQueen previously won top honors in the Intermediate category for both the 2009 and 2010 aviation art contests.
Judges for this year’s art contest included Michael Eddens, arts education director for the Oklahoma Arts Council; Glen Henry, director of arts education at the Oklahoma Department of Education; Melissa Graffigna, aviation and space education program manager with the Federal Aviation Administration; Jim Rice, president of Pro-Fab, Inc.; and Ben Robinson, vice president for institutional advancement at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.
The top three entries for each age group were forwarded to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national contest.
The 2011 International Aviation Art Contest is sponsored, in large part, by the National Aeronautic Association, Federation Aeronautique Internationale, National Association of State Aviation Officials, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education, Federal Aviation Administration and the Ken Cook Co.
