The Superintendent’s Art Show in Shelby County showcased the creativity of students from across the district on January 22, 2024. Held at The Shelby Room in the Shelby County Schools Instructional Services Center, the event featured a display of student artwork prior to the meeting of the Shelby County Schools Board of Education. This year’s competition recognized outstanding artistic talent among students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
Allison Campbell, the supervisor of fine arts for Shelby County Schools, presented the winners and honorable mentions during the event. “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,” Campbell stated.
Winners Celebrated Across Multiple Categories
The contest featured various categories based on grade levels, with winners announced as follows:
- Kindergarten through Third Grade:
- 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
- Fourth through Sixth Grade:
- 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
- Seventh through Eighth Grade:
- First place: Deniz Altinel, Oak Mountain Middle School
- Second place: Grant Smith, Columbiana Middle School
- Honorable mention: Alexa Gutierrez, Montevallo Middle School
- Ninth through Tenth Grade, Category 1:
- First place: Darah Gomez, Oak Mountain High School
- Second place: Autumn Wojtkielewicz, Montevallo High School
- Honorable mention: Kinley Bolton, Helena High School
- Ninth through Tenth Grade, Category 2:
- First place: Jackson Hall, Chelsea High School
- Second place: Curt Cashion, Chelsea High School
- Eleventh through Twelfth Grade:
- First place: Helena High School
- Second place: Victoria Nguyen, Chelsea High School
- Honorable mention: Glory Strickland, Helena High School
A total of 18 winning art pieces—10 from elementary schools and eight from secondary institutions—will advance to compete at the state level.
Recognition and Future Opportunities
During the ceremony, Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks expressed his appreciation for the art educators in the district. “We’re just so grateful for each of you and how you cultivate the talent that we have in our school district,” he remarked.
Additionally, the event recognized the recipients of the Superintendent’s Choice Award, which honors artwork personally selected by Dr. Brooks. This year’s recipients included:
- Oliver Quinn, Oak Mountain Elementary School
- Mattie Scoggins, Elvin Hill Elementary School
- Connor Crossland, Oak Mountain Middle School
In other business, the Board of Education approved the minutes from its previous meeting on December 16, 2023, along with an out-of-state field trip and various personnel actions. The board reviewed payroll and monthly expenditures, as well as management reports from John Gwin.
The next board meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2024, at 5 p.m. in The Shelby Room at the Shelby County Schools Instructional Services Center.
