Young SWFL artists honored for creative license plate designs
Dozens of Lee County fifth-graders were honored for their outstanding creativity in an annual art program that celebrates young artists.
The Kids Tag Art program gives students the opportunity to design a front-end license plate that can be purchased by the community as part of a collaborative fundraising project between the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and the Lee County Tax Collector.
The Lee County Tax Collector and the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools awarded 91 students with an Award of Distinction for their creative license plate designs in the annual Kids Tag Art program.
“This program is about helping students to see how creativity connects to real-world opportunities,” said Noelle Branning, the Lee County Tax Collector. “Through their designs, these students learn that their artistic talents can make an impact, and we’re proud to support both them and their teachers.”
More than 4,000 students participated in the program this year, 91 of which received an Award of Distinction for their well-developed designs.
All proceeds from the program, which began in 2016, are distributed to participating elementary school art teachers. Since its inception, the program has raised more than $291,000 for local art classrooms.
Inspiration for the program comes from the more than 100 speciality license plate options offered by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
This year, 45 elementary school teachers have received $600 each to upgrade their classroom facilities.
In addition to the Awards of Distinction, four students received special recognition for their designs:
-
Suncoast Credit Union’s Florida Explorers Award: Celina Dominguez, Trafalgar Elementary
-
School District of Lee County’s School Spirit Award: Giovanni Rivera, Patriot Elementary
-
Foundation for Lee County Public Schools’ Community Heroes Award: Adriana Castillo, Trafalgar Elementary
-
Tax Collector’s Choice Award: Adriana Valdez, Allen Park Elementary
San Carlos Park Elementary School art teacher Michele Sipos also received the Teacher’s Tag Art Award for her own design and dedication to art education.
“Kids Tag Art is a perfect example of how partnerships can strengthen education,” Marshall Bower, president & CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, said.
“This initiative connects students, teachers, businesses and the community to ensure the arts remain a vital part of a student’s education.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Kids Tag Art program honors 91 students’ license plate designs
