Eligible entrants include any Fresno County 7th-12th grade student in a public or private school or being home schooled. Students may submit one entry in each category.

AWARDS FOR ART

• Every entry receives a certificate.
• The TOP 10 per category, will receive medals. 
• The TOP three overall in middle school (7th-8th) will receive a $500.00 scholarship; the TOP three in high school (9th-12th) will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
• Grand Prize – 1 winner will be awarded an ART Grand Prize, which is a laptop.
• Teacher Award – The registered teacher of the ART Grand Prize winner will receive a $500.00 Amazon gift card.
• A student can only win the Art or Poetry Grand Prize once.
• The student awards will be given for Top 3 and Grand Prize winner on September 11, 2025.

ART PROMPT

Reflect on how our country was united as a result of the events of September 11, 2001.

It has been almost 24 years since September 11, 2001. Even though this was before you were born, you are probably familiar with the tragic events that happened in New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania (Flight 93) and how it changed our country. One way in which it changed the United States of America is that we came together as a nation to mourn our loss and celebrate our heroes. Countless heroes, many of them unnamed, came to the aid of victims of the tragedy.

Research the event, focusing on the first responders (police officers, fire fighters, emergency personnel, and others). Create an original piece of art that honors one or more heroes of September 11th and represents the theme of ONE VOICE – THE SPIRIT OF 9/12.

The Spirit of 9/12 is to bring us all back to the place we were on September 12, 2001.  We were not obsessed with red states, blue states or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the values and principles of the United States of America.

GUIDELINES

1. The submitted artwork fits the theme of the competition.
2. Artwork cannot be any larger than 24” x 36”.
3. Registration form must be completed online.
4. The registration form and release and waiver of liability form must be printed and attached to the back of the artwork.
5. Artist Statement: In 100 words or less, the artist must describe how the artwork represents the theme, explain what type of media is used and why. Attach this explanation to the back of the artwork.
6. Any artwork submitted in graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, or any other medium that may smear when handled must be submitted inside a clear plastic cover.
7. All artwork submitted for consideration must be the original creation of the artist and must not be generated using artificial intelligence or any automated digital art generation tools. Submissions found to be in violation of this policy will be disqualified from consideration. 
   1. By submitting your artwork, you acknowledge and agree to abide by this requirement.
8. By submitting the online registration, you certify that no generative AI was used in the creation of this artwork.
9. All entries are judged anonymously, and the student’s name must not appear on the artwork itself.
10. Deliver artwork to Fresno County Office of Education, 1111 Van Ness Avenue, on May 29, 2025, by 3:00 p.m. (To make arrangements for an alternate delivery date contact Dr. Lisa Benham-Lewis, lbenham@fcoe.org)
11. The creative interpretation of the subject/theme should have an emotional impact on the viewer.
12. Artwork must be the student’s original work not previously entered in this competition, and must not have been published anywhere, in any form including online.
13. The work stands on its own as a complete and outstanding creative image.
14. The design of the work shows an overall quality and command of the medium.
15. Artwork can be landscape, portrait, still life, or abstract and may use paint, drawing materials, collage materials, prints, original digital illustration, or photography.
16. Framing or matting is optional; however, no glass is allowed. 
17. All submissions must be suitable for all audiences; any artwork that expresses violence, is sexually suggestive, vulgar, or otherwise explicitly offensive will not be considered.
18. Submitted artwork is subject for use by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and The California 9/11 Memorial Foundation. The original will be returned to the school site.
19. Entries not complying with competition rules will be disqualified.

IDEAS

• Paint (watercolor, tempera, poster, acrylic, etc.)
• Drawing materials (pencil, charcoal, colored chalk, pastels, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, etc.). A protective folder for submission is encouraged when using these mediums.
• Collage materials (cut and glued papers, such as construction paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, aluminum foil, etc.)
• Prints (handmade stencils, gadget printing, block prints, etc.) 
• Original digital illustration
• Photography 

Art Rubric

CONTEST INFORMATION: Dr. Lisa Benham-Lewis, Director | lbenham@fcoe.org

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: LuAnn McCaslin, Administrative Assistant | lrmccaslin@fcoe.org