For the last 15 years, the Sun City West Art Club, through the special efforts of member Ron Fernandez, has been sponsoring a student art contest for the elementary schools in Surprise.

This year, Fernandez met with the principals, teachers and district coordinator for the project, Erica Chapman, to plan the event. The Nadaburg and Desert Oasis students involved included children from kindergarten through eighth-grade, as well as special education students. The theme students chose for this year was to create an art work representing “Our Wishes.” 

More than 100 art projects were submitted, and Art Club judges selected the winners in each grade category. There were 41 winning works of art chosen. A monetary award and a special ribbon was presented to those selected for first, second, third place and honorable mention for each group. Students were grouped by Special Education, Kindergarten, and grades 1-3, 4-6 and 7-8.

School representatives, winning students and parents attended the April 11 award celebration at the R.H. Johnson Social Hall in Sun City West. All student art work had been hung for everyone to admire. The children were very excited to see their work hung as if in a gallery and were eager to point out which art work was theirs. 

After the award ceremony, everyone snacked on cake and other goodies. Then the happy student winners returned to their school buses and headed off. It was rewarding to see the real excitement generated as these youngsters came up to pose by their art work and receive their awards.

The Sun West Art Club is committed to getting youngsters involved in art at an early age. Supporting this program is very important to Fernandez and to all members. One never knows what kind of long-range effect winning a prize in an art contest can have on a child.

Editor’s note: Jo-Anne Jones is a member of the Sun City West Art Club.