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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

The 2025 Annual State Superintendent’s Visual Arts Exhibit provided K-12 students from across Alabama the chance to showcase their visual arts skills.

Dozens of students from across the state were recognized for various art pieces that ranged from self-portraits to watercolor paintings.

Out of the large pool of winners, ten attend schools in the Shelby County area.

Luca Rice and Molly Driver, who both attend Pelham Oaks Elementary, were both awarded in the K-2 division of the awards. Rice won first in the division for a colorful self-portrait, while Driver was awarded for a photograph.

Kendyl Hannah, of Oak Mountain Intermediate, won third in the 3-4 division of the awards for a watercolor fruit painting, while Evelyn Rayl of Oak Mountain Elementary was an honorable mention in the same division for constructing a painting of a pear out of tissue paper.

Jacob Mondragon, from Chelsea Middle School, finished third in the 7-8 division for a nature painting. Shelby Kemp, from Helena Middle School, and Kaia McClain, from Thompson Middle School, were both honorable mentions in the category.

Kemp made an oil pastel painting of fruit, while McClain made an artful oil pastel painting.

Sara Allen, of Helena High School, finished second in the 9-10 division for an acrylic painting of a breakfast meal. Kansas Klein, of Pelham High School, finished first in category II of the 9-10 division with a unique digital design. Finally, Harper Sandlin of Thompson High School finished second in the 11-12 division with a drawing of a breakfast meal.

Andy Meadows, who works with the Alabama State Department of Education, gave background on the primary focus of the awards show.

“The primary focus is to showcase what is happening in Alabama public schools,” Meadows said. “The creativity, the critical thinking, the talented students that we have… to celebrate those students and to celebrate the hard work that teachers are doing.”

The artwork is put on display at the Alabama state capitol for two months while the Alabama state legislature is in session. Meadows gave background on how the selection process for the awards works.

“(The process) starts at the district level,” Meadows said. “Every single school system and charter school can submit up to 20 works of art. They may submit up to 10 works in elementary and 10 works in the secondary… that artwork is then sent to the state capitol.”

For more information on the art exhibit, visit Alabamaachieves.org.