Elk Ridge Middle students shine at chalk art festival

Picture 1 caption: First place: Taegon Ludwig and Sarah Schoonmaker.

Picture 2 caption: Second place: Hannah Gay and Rylee Kortcher.

Picture 3 caption: Third place: Olivia Smith and Alicia Johnson.

On Oct. 17 Elk Ridge Middle School held its semi-annual Chalk Art Festival. This is the fifth year of the school-wide event started by Liz Bolduc, a teacher at the school.

Bolduc and a former colleague attended the Gateway Chalk Art Festival and decided “it was something that needed to happen at our school,” she said. Since that decision five years ago, Elk Ridge has held this festival every October and May.

This fall’s theme was “World Monuments.” Twelve teams of middle school students drew selected images for the theme on the sidewalks outside of the school.

To participate, the students had to be in good academic and citizenship standing and had to apply to be on the teams. The student body then had the opportunity to view the artwork and vote on their favorites.

“The artwork is exceptional, and being chosen to participate is an honor for the students,” said Bolduc.

Participation awards are given to all teams plus first, second, and third place awards from Ultrecht Art Supply to the winning teams. The fall festival winners were: first place, Taegon Ludwig & Sarah Schoonmaker; second place, Hannah Gay & Rylee Kortcher; and third place, Olivia Smith & Alicia Johnson.