West Point student chosen as finalist in national art competition

Published 1:30 pm Tuesday, January 9, 2024

A West Point Middle School student has been selected as one of 12 finalists in a nationwide art contest sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Corporation. The winner will have his or her artwork featured on the cover of the company’s next academic planning calendar.

At the end of the last school year, Horace Mann representatives began encouraging students across the country to submit their original designs to be featured on the cover of the 2024-25 academic planning calendars the company distributes to thousands of educators nationwide.

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Two West Point students received high marks during the regional section of the competition: 11th-grader Aspen Sellers was ranked third in the region for the ninth-12th grade division. But it was WPMS eighth-grader Alaina Riggs who landed a first place finish in the fifth-eighth grade division.

Local Horace Mann representative Greg Privett told The Times in an emailed statement Monday, Jan. 4, how, “From concept to execution, Alaina’s artwork was amazing. Her artwork depicts a teacher watering a student as if she’s a flower. The student flowers throughout her school years as she grows academically.”

Blount County third-grader Henley Doss is also among the 12 national finalists.

First-place winners in the regional competitions have already received a $500 donation from Horace Mann. National winners in each age division will also receive an additional $1,000, and $5,000 will be donated to the winner’s school.

Public votes to decide the winner can be cast via the company’s website until Wednesday, Jan. 10.