The tops of our first three pages are a little different thanks to some talented young artists at Sheridan Elementary School, a fist-year art teacher, and a group of sponsors who jumped at the chance to support these young people.
In this edition we welcome our January 2024 Young Artist of the Month award winners: Simone Baker (Page 1), Cara Watts (Page 2) and Mylah Sevier (Page 3) from Miss Sweger’s fifth-grade art class at Sheridan Elementary School. Their artwork will grace the pages of The Reporter in print and online all week long.
Young artists from local schools will be featured in the pages of The Hamiton County Reporter every month this year.
In addition to having their artwork at the top of the page in Hamiton County’s Hometown Newspaper, each of these students received a framed certificate from The Reporter signed and presented by Editorial Cartoonist Tim Campbell. They each received a gift certificate from Hobby Lobby so their parents can take them to pick out more art supplies, and a gift certificate from Bien Mexicana, 150 S. Peru St, Cicero, to go celebrate a little.
Parents, you might want to go tomorrow when Bien is offering $2 tacos for their first-ever Taco Tuesday.
Now let’s talk about that art.
At the top of the front page of every newspaper is the name of the publication and some branding known as “the flag.” It is also called the nameplate. Some people like to refer to it as the masthead. We have gone to great lengths to perfect ours, and while there may be another newspaper out there that would be willing to give that up to support young artists, we’ve never heard of it.
Late last year, when we explained to potential sponsors that we were willing to give our flag away to showcase student artwork, the support was incredible.
Gaylor Electric, Tom Wood Volkswagen Noblesville, and Adler Attorneys are the sponsors who showed us their commitment to local art students this month by opening their checkbooks so these kids can have the prizes they deserve.
Our sponsors even allowed us to write a check to the school, which will go to Miss Sweger’s art class.
“This was a terrific opportunity for my students to unleash their inner artist and discover more about Hamilton County,” Sweger said. “All of my students did a great job at combining both research and art to create new mastheads for the paper. Our three winners have always taken their time on projects, and it clearly showed in their efforts for the contest. As a first-year teacher, it is so awesome to have students that are so engaged and clearly put their hearts into it.”
When asked about Miss Sweger, Sheridan Elementary Principal Valerie Roberts told The Reporter, “Madeline brings great joy to our building! She gives 110 percent energy and excitement to all that she does. She not only is our K-5 art teacher, but she has taken on a side project of sharing her passion of art therapy with some of our students. Her talents are well beyond her years of experience, and we are grateful to have her on our team.”
Hamilton County is home to exceptional artists, and we have community leaders who support the arts in an abundance of ways. There are more options for artists and art fans than we can possibly list. All that interest and commitment to the arts starts in our schools with the teachers who guide, nudge and encourage kids to try new things and learn where their talents live.
We hope some of the young artists you see for the first time in The Reporter this year will grow into the artists and art leaders of the next generation.
Maybe one of this month’s winners will someday see their work featured in a gallery exhibit. When asked about their background in art, perhaps one will say to a journalist, “It all began in Miss Sweger’s art class with a contest in my hometown newspaper …”
Dare to dream.
(From left) Sheridan Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Dave Mundy, first-place winner Simone Baker, art teacher Miss Madeline Sweger, third-place winner Mylah Sevier, and Sheridan Elementary School Principal Valerie Roberts. Not pictured: second-place winner Cara Watts. (Photo provided)
Sheridan Schools grateful for Hometown Partnership
Submitted by Sheridan Community Schools
Sheridan Elementary students, under the guidance of first-year art teacher Miss Madeline Sweger, said they were excited to participate in the newspaper banner contest sponsored by the Hamilton County Reporter.
The project that grew from the hometown paper’s desire to get students involved with their local news source turned into a learning journey for Sheridan’s third through fifth graders. Sweger explained that after receiving the prompt from the paper about the contest, she brainstormed with the students what Hamilton County has, adding, “For some, it was the first time that they realized Hamilton County was more than Sheridan.”
SES winners are 1st Place: Simone Baker, fifth grade; 2nd Place: Cara Watts, fifth grade; and 3rd Place: Mylah Sevier, fourth grade.
SES leadership expressed appreciation to the Reporter for allowing students to become involved in the community.
“We are fortunate to have a hometown paper that not only provides news to our community, but also wants to be a true partner in promoting SCS and the Sheridan community,” Superintendent Dave Mundy said. “We are grateful for their outstanding coverage.”