Student artists celebrated by Alabama Power
5333_RefrigeratorArtContest_McKinneyMeg : Alabama Power Co. with sponsors, awards winners of the Refrigerator Art Contest, for Birmingham public schools, grades K-5.
Student Melina Robles accepts award.
School buses rolled into Alabama Power for a very special assembly Tuesday morning, as 15 talented young student artists were honored in the company’s first-ever Refrigerator Art contest.
The ceremony, held at the Metro Central Appliance Sales and Service Center in Birmingham, welcomed teachers, principals and moms and dads as they celebrated the children’s clever and colorful artwork.
Birmingham student winners announced in Alabama Power’s refrigerator art contest from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
More than 770 drawings – a remarkable total – were submitted by 21 Birmingham City schools. Judges from the Birmingham arts community chose the best 15, with the top three earning a new Whirlpool refrigerator for their families and schools.
“Parents and teachers, thank you for encouraging our children to express their creativity however they see fit,” said Ashley Robinett, area manager for Alabama Power’s Birmingham Division. “As you will see, Birmingham harbors much artistic talent.”
Alabama Power Co. with sponsors, awards winners of the Refrigerator Art Contest, for Birmingham public schools, grades K-5. Nationally known artist Steve Skipper addresses students.
The winners – Krystalyn Menefield, first grade, Glen Iris Elementary; Melina Robles, third grade, Inglenook K-8; and Kirsten Smith, fifth grade, Phillips Academy – walked up to the front of the room and shyly accepted their certificates to loud applause.
“Kids, there’s not enough that we can say to let you know how proud we are of every one of you and to encourage you to continue to use your God-given talent,” said portrait artist Steve R. Skipper, one of the contest’s judges.
Skipper recounted the time when an elementary school teacher saw his artistic potential and encouraged him to pursue it.
“Never let anybody tell you that you need to quit your artwork and get a real job,” he said. “You’ve found your purpose.”
The 12 runner-up finalists were given a certificate as well while their drawings were revealed, one-by-one, on giant refrigerator magnets on the Whirlpool refrigerators behind them.
In addition to the energy-efficient appliances, the three winning schools will receive $1,000 each for their libraries from the Alabama Power Foundation and its Brighter Minds Initiative. All 15 students will receive gift certificates to Books-A-Million.
“We know as a school district that we cannot do the work of educating students alone; it truly takes a village,” said Dr. Kelley Castlin-Gacutan, superintendent of Birmingham City Schools. “I want to thank Alabama Power for your partnership.”
It was a festive atmosphere as pizza from Davenport’s Pizza Palace and fruit and cookies were served. Parents mingled and chatted, taking photos of their children standing next to their artistic creations.
“I was thinking about life,” said finalist Kourtlyn McCall, fifth-grader at Oxmoor Valley Elementary, when asked what made her draw her piece. “Because I like to draw a lot.”
“I thought it was awesome,” said her mother, Melanie Harris. “I’m very proud of my daughter for participating and doing her absolute best. That’s a major accomplishment and something to be honored.”
“It was very special and very important for us to be here with our child for this,” said Cristobal Francisco, father of Widman Isrrael Cristobal Juarez, fifth-grader at Hayes K-8. Juarez was one of five ESL (English as a Second Language) students who placed in the top 15.
“Very often that’s the way they express themselves, through their art. So I’m not surprised,” said Rosalva Bermudez Ballin, ESL program specialist for Birmingham City Schools. “Something like this will be very encouraging for him to progress both artistically as well as academically.”
Under contest rules, the art was divided into three themes related to reading: “Draw a character or story from your favorite book” (grades K-1), “draw your favorite place to read” (grades 2-3) and “draw the cover if your life were a book” (grades 4-5).
“I think you’ll agree that they prove our point that arts and literacy go hand-in-hand,” said Robinett.
The resulting drawings – 15 in the room and nearly 800 overall – were both impressive and heartwarming.
“Every child that submitted artwork in this competition is a winner,” said Skipper. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure this happens every year.”
WINNER, grades K-1:
- Krystalyn Menefield, first, Glen Iris Elementary
RUNNER-UP FINALISTS:
- Aamiyah Calhoun, kindergarten, Phillips Academy
- Aven Thompson, first, Martha Gaskins Elementary
- Edeline Torres, first, Huffman Academy
- Trinity Wooden, kindergarten, Avondale Elementary
WINNER, grades 2-3:
- Melina Robles, third, Inglenook K-8
RUNNER-UP FINALISTS:
- Shekinah Bush, second, Phillips Academy
- Erick Don-Garcia, third, Huffman Academy
- Zaiderick Hayes, third, Avondale Elementary
- Steven Kampi, third, Glen Iris Elementary
WINNER, grades 4-5:
- Kirsten Smith, fifth, Phillips Academy
RUNNER-UP FINALISTS:
- Jerry Cruz-Apolinar, fifth, Martha Gaskins Elementary
- Widman Isrrael Cristobal Juarez, fifth, Hayes K-8
- Keiara Nakia Kelley, fourth, Hemphill Elementary
- Kourtlyn McCall, fifth, Oxmoor Valley Elementary
