The Shelby County Schools (SCS) celebrated student creativity during the annual Superintendent’s Art Show held on January 22, 2024, at the Shelby County Schools Instructional Services Center. This event showcased artwork from students across the district, culminating in the announcement of competition winners just before the SCS Board of Education meeting.
Allison Campbell, supervisor of fine arts for Shelby County Schools, expressed the significance of the event, stating, “This is one of our favorite events because we’re able to pause and take a chance to truly appreciate the creativity and hard work of our students.”
The following students earned top honors in their respective categories:
Winners of the Art Show
In the Kindergarten through third grade category, the winners were as follows:
– First place: Oliver Quinn, Oak Mountain Elementary School
– Second place: Rosie Paul, Oak Mountain Elementary School
– Third place: Samantha Portillo, Vincent Elementary School
– Fourth place: Ben Renno, Inverness Elementary School
– Fifth place: Clara Deal, Helena Elementary School
For the fourth through sixth grade category:
– First place: Evelyn Bush, Oak Mountain Intermediate School
– Second place: Addilyn Rose, Shelby Elementary School
– Third place: Nevaeh Know, Vincent Elementary School
– Fourth place: Avery Green, Oak Mountain Intermediate School
– Fifth place: Emily Martinez, Montevallo Middle School
In the seventh through eighth grade category:
– First place: Deniz Altinel, Oak Mountain Middle School
– Second place: Grant Smith, Columbiana Middle School
– Honorable mention: Alexa Gutierrez, Montevallo Middle School
For the ninth to tenth grade category, the winners were:
– First place: Darah Gomez, Oak Mountain High School
– Second place: Autumn Wojtkielewicz, Montevallo High School
– Honorable mention: Kinley Bolton, Helena High School
In another ninth to tenth grade category, the results included:
– First place: Jackson Hall, Chelsea High School
– Second place: Curt Cashion, Chelsea High School
Finally, in the eleventh to twelfth grade category:
– First place: Helena High School
– Second place: Victoria Nguyen, Chelsea High School
– Honorable mention: Glory Strickland, Helena High School
A total of 18 pieces—10 from the elementary level and eight from the secondary level—will advance to compete at the state level.
Dr. Lewis Brooks, Superintendent of Shelby County Schools, expressed appreciation for the art teachers, saying, “We’re just so grateful for each of you and how you cultivate the talent that we have in our school district.”
Special Awards and Board Meeting Highlights
In addition to the category winners, the evening also recognized the recipients of the Superintendent’s Choice Award, which highlights outstanding art personally selected by Dr. Brooks. The recipients included:
– Oliver Quinn, Oak Mountain Elementary School
– Mattie Scoggins, Elvin Hill Elementary School
– Connor Crossland, Oak Mountain Middle School
Following the art show, the SCS Board of Education convened to address various administrative matters. The board approved the minutes from its previous meeting on December 16, 2023, as well as an out-of-state field trip. Other agenda items included financial reports, payroll approvals, TEAMS contracts, and architectural bids.
The board will reconvene for its next meeting on February 19, 2024, at 17:00 in The Shelby Room at the SCISC, located at 601 First Street South in Alabaster.
