We are officially the newspaper that gave away our branding. And we are doing it for a full week every month for as long as local schools will keep encouraging young artists to take the top of the page.
The tops of our first three pages are a little different this week, thanks to some talented young artists at Sheridan Middle School, an art teacher who wants students to succeed, and a group of sponsors who jumped at the chance to support these young people.
Our February 2024 Young Artist of the Month award winners are Caitriona Priddy (Page A1), Lia Christman (Page A2) and Ava Gist (Page A3) from Mrs. Smith’s sixth- and eighth-grade art classes at Sheridan Middle School. Their artwork will grace the pages of The Reporter in print and online all week long.
1st Place winner Caitriona Priddy and her family. (Photo provided by Superintendent Dave Mundy)
Young artists from local schools are being featured in the pages of The Hamilton County Reporter every month this year.
In addition to having their artwork at the top of the page in Hamilton 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.
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.
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.
To our surprise, some individual donors have also asked for the chance to increase the prizes we can give these students. This month we thank Bill Miller and Emily Pearson for offering to help before we could even ask.
Reporter Editorial Cartoonist Tim Campbell presents a check to art teacher Mrs. Smith for art supplies for her class. (Photo provided by Superintendent Dave Mundy)
Our sponsors even allowed us to write a check to the school, which will go to Mrs. Smith’s art class.
“All three artists are great to have in class,” Mrs. Smith told The Reporter. “They are all hard working, kind, respectful students. This was an awesome opportunity for our students to have their talents recognized. I thank the Hamilton County Reporter for their support of the Arts.”
No, thank you for not only teaching these young people about the value of art in the world, but for agreeing to be a part of our little contest.