Exquisite hand crafted awards were presented to 16 Rutherford County students last week for placing in the spring BEP/Nissan “Arts for Education” art contest.
 
The award plaques, featuring original designs by local potter Lewis Snyder, were commissioned by Lee Rennick, executive director of the Business Education Partnership at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, as part of the contest’s goal to bring awareness to the Rutherford County art community.
 
Student winners of the art contest were honored in a reception at the Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda on February 10th, where Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg and Rennick presented the students with the awards.

Winners from last year’s contest were also recognized, due to last year’s awards ceremony being canceled by flooding.
 
“We were thrilled with this year’s entries,” Rennick said. “Our judges told me they had a very difficult time choosing our winners, and were impressed with the quality of entries. The creativity and ingenuity of Rutherford County’s young people is truly something for us to celebrate.”
 
The contest is in its second year of encouraging young people in the arts.

The BEP establishes a theme for the contest each year and accepts painting, drawing, photography, mixed-media and sculpture pieces from K-12 classrooms in Rutherford County based on the theme.

The art is judged by local professional artists.

This year’s theme was “The World around Us”, a tribute to the growing international community in Middle Tennessee and expansion of global partnerships in business, academics and the arts in the United States.
 
The following students were recognized in the 2011 Arts for Education competition in four grade categories:
 
K-2nd Grade: Elise Forrester, Buchanan Elementary (First Place); Lindsey Boutiette, Barfield Elementary (Second Place); Sarah Kelley, Blackman Elementary (Third Place); Javen Franklin, Buchanan Elementary (Honorable Mention).
 
3rd-5th Grade: Fischer Touchton, Barfield Elementary (First Place); Eli Ward, Barfield Elementary (Second Place); Sydney O’Donald , St. Rose of Lima (Third Place); Anna Grace Petty, Blackman Elementary (Honorable Mention).
 
6th-8th Grade: Yasmine Sakalla, Whitworth Buchanan Middle (First Place); Maddie Moeller, Whitworth Buchanan Middle (Second Place); Kyla Scott, Central Magnet School (Third Place); Valley Juegemeier, Whitworth Buchanan Middle (Honorable Mention).
 
9th-12th Grade:  Steven Grimes, Oakland High (First Place); Emily Adams, Eagleville High (Tied for Second Place); Quinton Stroble, Oakland High (Tied for Second Place); Eleanor Veazie, Oakland High (Third Place).
 
Best in Show: Fischer Touchton.
 
Winning pieces from the contest will be featured in the BEP’s annual fundraising event, which will be held this year on Friday, February 25th. “Arts for Education: An International Evening” will include live and silent auctions for student pieces as well as travel packages and other fine items, accompanied by international entertainment and cuisine during the event.
 
Tickets are available for “Arts for Education: An International Evening” for $75 per individual and $600 per table. For more information and to purchase tickets e-mail lrennick@rutherfordchamber.org or visit the Business Education Partnership Facebook page for listings of student art and auction items.