April 11, 2017. Louisville, KY.  30 Kentuckiana students from grades K-12 were honored tonight DuPont Manual High School for their artistic achievement in the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Student Art Contest Presented by The Fillies, Inc.

A panel of local artists selected the winners. Of the hundreds of entries, some of the most popular themes among the winning artwork this year were the Great Steamboat Race, U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest, the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade, and Thunder Over Louisville. Seven students from Norton Commons Elementary, under the direction of Sarah Maxwell Miller, and seven students from Rangeland Elementary, under the direction of Christa Hudson, had winning and/or honorable mention entries. Five of Alana Alford’s students at duPont Manual High School had winning and/or honorable mention entries. In addition, there were four winning and/or honorable mention entries from the Catholic school system.

The first-place winners in all divisions receive a 2017 framed Festival Poster by 2017 Official Poster Artist Ron Jasin, as well as a chance to appear in the 2017 Republic Bank Pegasus Parade.  All winners receive a medallion, certificate, T-shirt, and a Student Art Contest winner’s pin. Teachers of the winning students will also be invited to the ceremony and will receive special recognition.

The original artwork by area students will be on display at the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade Preview Party beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2.

The Festival has offered this opportunity for area students to showcase their creative skills since 1977.  The Foundation’s Student Art Contest is sponsored by Fillies, Inc. The Fillies, Inc. was founded in 1959 kicking off a tradition of volunteer service to the local community.  They join Contributing Sponsor Kentucky College of Art + Design at Spalding University and Media Sponsor ARTxFM.