A Lincoln-Way West High School sophomore had hoped her entry into a contest celebrating the state’s bicentennial would put her artwork on the map.
Courtney Kurtz’s art won’t grace the front of the 2018 Illinois Tollway map, but as the runner-up in a contest sponsored by the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, her hand-drawn entry will appear on brochures and the organization’s website.
For her entry, Kurtz used colored pencils to draw a picture of the state capitol alongside two monarch butterflies, the official state insect.
On the other side, she drew a small map of the state, featuring the interstate system.
“I’m always very proud at the amount of effort and determination she puts into her art,” said Kurtz’s mom, Cheri Hall.
About 120 students from more than 25 high schools in communities along the tollway system participated in the contest.
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First place went to a student from Lake Forest High School, and two students at Bolingbrook High School filled out the top four finishers.
Kurtz also received $200 in gift certificates to spend at Blick Art Materials and $100 in gift certificates to spend at stores at Tollway oases.
Kurtz said she plans to participate in the contest next year with the hope of illustrating the cover of the 2019 tollway map.
Whether it’s encouraging students to participate in this contest or others, such as for posters promoting the Frankfort Fall Festival, educators at Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox always are looking for ways to promote their students’ artwork, a school official said.
“Any chance we have to help feature our kids’ art is great,” said Phil Labriola, art department chair for the school district.
Labriola said educators in the district recognize art is an important part of students’ education.
“I think it’s a great way to expose them to some areas they may not know they were interested in,” he said.
Labriola said some past students from the district who developed their art there went on to have artistic careers, such as photographers or graphic designers.
Labriola said art helps students develop problem solving skills and find creative solutions, with which Kurtz is becoming familiar.
“I like coming up with new ideas and see how they transmit to paper,” she said.
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.