Four students recognized for outstanding artwork at City Council meeting

Posted Sunday, September 22, 2024 7:18 pm

By Keily Alfonzo, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice

Four local students were recognized for their outstanding artwork during the Apopka City Council's meeting on September 18th as part of a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant initiative.

Radley Williams, the Parks and Recreation Director, emphasized the significance of acknowledging the students' contributions, noting that their work was previously displayed at City Hall in April.

“We wanted to bring them in now that the grant is wrapping up to give them recognition and appreciation,” Williams said.

The NEA, established in 1965, is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in the United States. The organization provides grants to a wide range of recipients, including nonprofit arts organizations, public agencies, and individual artists. Williams explained that a key component of the Apopka grant was to engage youth in the community through artistic outreach.

The students recognized during the meeting included:

Lilyana Andrews: Graphite drawing
Lalah Rushing: Painting
Constance Massengill: Poem
Christian Smith: Colored pencil artwork

Each student received a certificate of achievement and a $50 gift card to Hobby Lobby to support their continued artistic endeavors.

Additionally, the City of Apopka celebrated Youth Art Month by hosting an art competition titled "Honoring the Past Through Change," which was open to students in grades K-12. The $10,000 NEA grant funded two murals honoring the first settlers in Meads Bottom, located at the corner of 6th Street and McGee. The unveiling ceremony for these murals is set for Thursday, September 26, at 4:00 PM.