FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, July 29, 2024
CONTACT:
Press@Chicago2024.com
Chicago 2024 Host Committee Announces High School Art Competition Winners
CHICAGO, IL — Today, the Chicago 2024 Host Committee announced the winners of the “Welcome to Chicago” High School Art competition.
Sarah Al-Shawabkeh, a junior at William Howard Taft High School, was selected as the first place winner and will have her design featured on Democratic National Convention memorabilia. Al-Shawabkeh’s design, titled Welcoming Greetings, incorporates Chicago’s iconic architecture and the four stars of the Chicago flag––all while utilizing our shared national colors of red, white, and blue. Sarah’s work was selected by a panel of judges who reviewed artwork submitted by high school students from across the Chicago area. The Host Committee is proud to announce the following students will also have their designs displayed at convention events:
Brigid O’Malley, Chicago High School of Agricultural Science – 2nd Place
Jairo Camacho, Lincoln Park High School – 3rd Place
Aniyah Coleman, Walter Payton College Prep – 4th Place
“I am thrilled to represent high school artists across the city and show Chicago through my perspective with my design,” said First Place Winner Sarah Al-Shawabkeh. “My inspiration for the piece was greeting cards, typically received from friends and family you are close to. Chicago’s remarkable skylines were also a huge inspiration––so I combined the two. What motivated me to participate in the competition was that the DNC was specifically looking for art from high schoolers and I felt as if this would be a great opportunity to get involved!”
“We were overwhelmed by the talent and creativity Chicago students displayed in their submissions,” said Chicago 2024 Host Committee Senior Advisor Keiana Barrett. “We are thrilled to display these designs across the convention to help showcase our city’s incredible youth artists.”
The “Welcome to Chicago” art competition invited any full-time student at a public or private high school in the Chicago metropolitan area to submit original artwork inspired by the prompt “Welcome to Chicago.” Students from across the city submitted a range of designs across different mediums. Designs were adjudicated by a panel of judges that included local artists, representatives from Chicago Public Schools, and members of the Host Committee’s Youth Advisory Council. The Host Committee’s Youth Advisory Council, composed of leaders from 17 youth-serving organizations, works with the Host Committee’s civic and community engagement team to ensure youth inclusion throughout the Democratic National Convention.
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