First place entries by (l-r) Maranda Newsome, Starla Fortier, and Darius James.
Budding artists had a chance to grow their creativity during a competition featuring the only American president from Georgia. Eight Thomas County Central High School students won or placed in the annual post card contest co-sponsored by The Peanut Institute and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.
“We've participated in this contest for 10 years, but have never had eight winners,” TCCHS art teacher Jocelyn Rivard said. “I am exceedingly proud of our TCCHS efforts this year.”
This year’s theme was “Plains Grows a President.” An awards ceremony was held in Plains on Sept. 24, where winners received recognition and had their photo taken with former President Jimmy Carter.
“Art students participate in this contest as it challenges them to create a graphic design project on a small scale,” Rivard said. “They must combine text and imagery into a balanced composition. Each year I am delighted to see the students' resulting interpretations of the theme.”
Darius James, first place in 12th grade, said his win “feels wonderful” and he’s proud that other people noticed his work. James tackled the project with a “creative mindset” and drew the former president as a peanut plant.
“I chose to illustrate the plant that way because it shows how he grew up with peanut plants,” James said.
Aleala Sharpe, second place in senior division, said her placement “feels good.” This is her first year taking art classes.
“I never knew my drawing was that good,” she said. “I couldn’t believe I won second place for my grade.”
She chose to join the competition because she’d never been in one, and when Rivard mentioned it to her class Sharpe was “excited” to try.
“It was a good experience,” she said. “It wasn’t something I just put together. I took my time while making this postcard.”
Starla Fortier won first place in the junior division. She admits being shocked at the news.
“I would have never thought that I would actually win a competition,” she said. “Usually, I feel as though my art is not good enough, but it (the win) really boosted my confidence.”
Her piece depicted the sky with light and dark clouds and the gate to Carter’s farm.
“It is a nice and peaceful scene in the country with a fading sky,” she said.
Fortier wanted to meet Carter and gain experience from entering the competition.
“While being there (awards ceremony), I learned more than I knew before about both Carter and the town of Plains,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience and an honor to meet President Carter, something I will cherish forever.”
Caylin Dollar earned second place in the junior division. Her entry shows a farm with fields and silos, fading red barns, sheep, pecan trees, and a sunset sky with a plane flying through it and “Plains Grows a President” spelled out in the clouds. She wanted to illustrate the small town Carter grew up in and researched Plains’ farms to get ideas.
“I feel so proud of myself to be able to win the postcard contest,” Dollar said. “I was determined to do my best just to be able to meet our former president.”
She said the experience of meeting Carter is one she will never forget.
“It’s not every day Jimmy Carter personally hands you an award,” Dollar explained. “I have made my whole family proud with this amazing experience.”
Malori Deen received third place in the junior division. She said the win feels “amazing” because she “got to experience something that means a lot” to her.
“I had an amazing experience meeting a former president because it’s not like every day you can just meet an important person like that,” she said.
Maranda Newsome won first place in the 10th grade division for her entry, which features an open peanut, a barn, trees and a windmill.
“It feels kinda cool being that this was the first thing I have drawn for a contest since the seventh grade,” Newsome said of her win. “I wanted to take part in the competition to challenge myself.”
Demi Rosario won second place in the 10th grade division. Rosario said she was “jumping with excitement” when she heard the news. Her piece depicted a farm and a peanut.
Jalyssa Gibson earned third place in the 10th grade division. She was “shocked but amazed” by her placement.
“It feels amazing to win,” she said. “I didn’t know that I was capable of winning anything.”
Her entry depicts a peanut with one eye to symbolize that it was growing and also has tie-dye because “I really love colors,” Gibson said.
Art is her “outlet” and Gibson thanked her loved ones for encouraging her to show her creative side and “dream big.”
Though each student honored has different backgrounds and experience, they all got to the competition because of their participation in school art classes. These students say art classes are important for schools to offer because they help youths express themselves in a positive environment, keep the imagination alive, improve artistic abilities, bring out students’ creativity, and offer a place for them to fit in or relieve stress.
“Art isn’t just about drawing and coloring, it’s about learning new things,” Sharpe said. “Art at TCCHS really has made my life better because I have something to look forward to every day.”
The winning post cards (enlarged) will be on display at Plains High School Museum through January 2017.