Student artwork honored by statewide organization

LENOIR, NC (September 30, 2016)…Hayley Hartley, sixth grader at Hudson Middle School student, receives recognition as one of six winners in the 2016 Young Artists Competition sponsored by Professional Educators of North Carolina (PENC). Hayley was in the fifth grade at Sawmills Elementary School, when she created the winning artwork.

Sawmills Elementary art teacher Brad Wright was recognized with Haley during an awards ceremony held on September 24, 2016 in Raleigh.

“I am honored to have had the privilege to have taught Hayley and watch her develop as a young artist from Kindergarten through 5th grade at Sawmills Elementary School. She has a special talent and passion for the visual arts,” said Wright.

At the ceremony Hartley was awarded a certificate of achievement and a cash prize of $50. Her work will also be featured in upcoming PENC publications.

Each year, PENC selects winning entries from elementary, middle, and high school submissions. According to the organization, the goal of this competition is to highlight the hard work of North Carolina’s visual art teachers and their students. PENC is a state-based, nonpartisan professional organization that has been serving educators for over thirty years.

Other students awarded in the elementary and middle grades were:

• Tess Caron, 2nd Grade at Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School, Theresa Reiter – Art Teacher

• Sydney Strader, 5th Grade at Lincoln Elementary School, Donna Moore – Art Teacher

• Makaiya Davis, 8th First Flight Middle School, Jennifer Stewart – Art Teacher

• Jackie Paniagua, 8th Grade at Mt. Olive Middle School, Karen Helms – Art Teacher

• Daniella Calderon Lacayo, 8th Grade at Clemmons Middle School, Katherine Howard – Art Teacher

Haley Hartley will be recognized by the Caldwell County Board of Education at its regular meeting on Monday, November 14. The public is invited to attend.