History poster contest winners announced

History comes in many shapes, sizes and colors, and that fact was fully evident in the many different entries received during the annual Ruth Strand Poster Contest.

Sponsored by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, the 2017 Ruth Strand Poster Contest encouraged second-grade students to submit an original drawing depicting a scene from Elmhurst history.

The contest honors Ruth Strand, longtime director of the Elmhurst Public Library and a founding member of what is now the Elmhurst History Museum.

Students from 10 Elmhurst schools participated in the contest, and members of the community voted to select the winners. The first-place poster, created by Wileinne Velano of Lincoln Elementary School, was a vivid drawing featuring a horse and stand of elm trees that considered how the city of Elmhurst got its name.

Winners of the contest are as follows:

• First pace: Wileinne Velano, Lincoln School

• Second place (tie): Lucy Killik, Edison School, and Ignas Zemaitaitis, Jackson School

• Third place: Sara Steinecker, Emerson School

Honorable mentions are: Ellie Close, Edison; Zeshawn Mughal, Emerson; Rachel Reiff, Field; Valeria Delgado, Fischer; Maeve Wicklow, Hawthorne; Elizabeth Buranakanchana, Jackson; Grant Arquilla, Jefferson; Beau Walker, Lincoln; Lilly McDonough, Visitation; and Lily Ohm, Immanuel Lutheran.

The poster contest winners were honored Wednesday, May 24, at a reception at the Elmhurst History Museum. Students received gift bags from the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, and schools with 10 or more participants received a donation to support their school library.

The posters will be displayed at the Elmhurst History Museum throughout the summer, and winning entries may be viewed at City Hall after Monday, June 5.

In addition, the winners will march alongside the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation in the Elmhurst Memorial Day parade and the group will be recognized at the Elmhurst City Council meeting on Monday, June 5.