Elmhurst celebrates art contest winners
Children have a unique view of local history, and their colorful perspectives on the subject were well-documented in the entries received for the 2019 Ruth Strand Poster Contest.
The annual contest, sponsored by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation and the Elmhurst History Museum, challenged second-grade students to depict and describe a scene from Elmhurst history.
The contest honors Ruth Strand, the longtime director of the Elmhurst Public Library and a founding member of what is now the Elmhurst History Museum.
The Elmhurst Heritage Foundation presents the contest each year as part of its mission to stimulate broad-based support for local history, the Elmhurst History Museum, and the Churchville Schoolhouse through advocacy, education and fundraising.
More than 300 students from nine Elmhurst schools participated in the contest, and members of the community voted to select the winners.
The first-place poster, created by Mia Ofiara of Field Elementary School, was an attractive rendering of the York Theatre, complete with dimensional letters and gold decorative touches to echo the art deco style of the theater's original marquee.
Second place went to Anya Denninger from Lincoln School, who selected the Elmhurst Quarry as her topic. Third place went to Natalie Wierzbicki of Jackson School, who drew a picture of the Bicentennial Fountain in downtown Elmhurst.
The winning posters will be displayed on the second floor of Elmhurst City Hall.
The following students received honorable mentions: Parker Byford from Jackson; Emma Famarin, Field; Aimee Glorioso, Emerson; Brenner Harges, Hawthorne; Anna Herron, Edison; Lanie Shish, Lincoln; Sam Sianis, Jefferson; and Brithney Solis, Fischer.
The poster contest winners were honored May 22 at a reception at Elmhurst City Hall, and will be recognized at the June 2 Elmhurst City Council meeting. Students received gift bags from the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, and schools with 10 or more participants received a $100 grant to support their school's library.