2024 Art Contest Winners

K-2 Winner: Mia Claire  
Age: 6
Grade: 1st  

“I wonder how pretty it is to be inside a rainbow. I wonder what the view of the city looks like from the rainbow. I wonder if everyone is loving, peaceful, and kind.”

K-2 Runner-up: Koushik
Age: 7
Grade: 2nd

“Space is like a playground full of stars and planets that makes our imaginations soar high. I always wonder about space because it’s full of mysteries waiting to be discovred, like a treasure hunt!”

K-2 Runner-up: Ekaterina
Age: 7
Grade: 2nd 

“Look at my drawing! It’s a magical land with unique flowers, plants, and me in the middle. I wonder how to make the world safer for all kids, so they can play and grow happily. I’m curious about creating places where every child feels secure and important.

My colors and imagination help me think about making the world better for everyone. I want all kids to draw their own special world, where there’s no fear. Let’s make a world where every child finds their place under the sun!”

3-5 Winner: Keziah 
Age: 11
Grade: 5th 

“My artwork is called, “A Ripple Effect” and it is somewhat more abstract than any of my other works of art. The purpose of creating this piece was to spark interest and invite the concept of wonder to the viewer. The meaning behind the work is up to discussion and it allows viewers to have a different insight to the artwork. I want them to look and reflect on their own personal wonder.

As a fifth grade student, “I Wonder,” I think about what I want to be when I grow up. The endless possibilities puzzles me – what would my future hold? “A Ripple Effect” demonstrates this as a young girl peers down at her older reflection illuminating her as a college graduate.

What can wonder do for you?”

3-5 Runner-up: Quinn and Elle 
Age: 10, 10
Grade: 5th, 5th

“The meaning of our I wonder project was to demonstrate all of the thoughts that go through the human mind. We made this because we wanted to show how interesting and deep the thoughts of the human mind can really be. We chose the colors of this painting because they made the painting feel more lively and we felt that it matched the mood of the painting very nicely. We show many thoughts in our painting because the human mind has about 6,200 thoughts per day, and our brains are never just thinking about one thing at once. It is also to show that sometimes it is ok to have a lot on your mind or be overwhelmed. Overall, we wanted to show our I wonder.”

3-5 Runner-up: Cate
Age: 9
Grade: 4th  

“Imagine what it would be like to visit the bottom of the ocean.”

6-8 Winner: Aisha 
Age: 12
Grade: 6th

“I wonder what people of this generation will do about climate change and global warming. In my drawing, I am looking into a portal to the future. There are two landscapes before me. The left one shows what our world could look like in the future if we don’t show much care in improving climate change. The right one shows what our world could look like if we do something to help this situation of climate change. I am hoping that our generation can help make the world a better place for future generations.”

6-8 Runner-up: Aleena 
Age: 12
Grade: 7th

“I wonder if humanity realizes the dire circumstances caused: continued genocide, depleted resources, constant urbanization, and tyrannical government. At only twelve, I do not just wonder – I worry – for our world, my future and all of our existence. In a world that should celebrate collaboration, strive for the better, become conscious about supplies, and understand one another, the picture is too stark of a black and white, too negative. I worry and wonder that our world has so very many problems: I placed my brain at the center of my paper concentrating and wondering about these issues, because these problems all stem from a similar issue in our perceptions, lack of care or concern. The progression or dark to light symbolizes how Israel has rapidly invaded Palestine. Despite our learned lessons of reading about genocide, we have not learned our lesson, and innocent lives are taken, and culture is decimated. Our society claims to reduce, reuse, recycle, however, Styrofoam fills our streets, landfills overflow, and animals’ natural habitats are destroyed. Local markets worldwide need more supply from farmland and vegetation, so we should all work together to provide them. Tyrants, who just do not want to listen to the citizens, need to understand all these circumstances. I wonder a lot about these problems, but I also wonder about the solutions. I – my brain – is at the center of responsibility for positive change. I wonder if I can turn the dark to light.”

6-8 Runner-up: Maryam
Age: 13
Grade: 8th

“Books are where I would live if I had a choice. Nature & skies are something I have gotten lost in a lot. My friends & family are the center of my life. My artwork shows a library blanketed in gorgeous skies & stars. My friends names are on the books. I always wonder if a place so magical like this is something I can bring to reality.”

9-12 Winner: Lillian
Age: 16
Grade: 11th

“As children, we all wonder what is out there in the world. This curiosity drives us to learn more about the world every day. As we grow older, we gradually lose our innocence and grow more wary about the world around us. Life becomes more complex and we have moments where we lose hope and feel like giving up. This drawing of me as a young child, eagerly pointing out the window, is about memorializing the innocence and wonder we have about the world as children. Sometimes we all need to fall back on that and remember our beginnings.”

9-12 Runner-up: Diego
Age: 16
Grade: 10th

“Dreams are the very foundation for human motivation and determination, because dreams are often depictions of the futures we want. To be curious about the things we want is at the core of humanity, depicted in the first panel. But to go past that curiosity and chase dreams is a test of human will. Will being the pinnacle of human limit, as seen in the second panel, with the person pushing to strengthen their body by running. Being curious about achieving our dreams is in direct correlation with will, which is what brings individuals to push themselves and reach their peak. Depicted in the third panel. These events of progression are a cycle as there is always someone new. Someone who becomes curious themselves and chases their dreams, depicted in the last panel. Asking ourselves the question “I wonder what we will dream of next?” is why humanity has come this far. And it is why it will continue to go further.”

9-12 Runner-up: Nola
Age: 14
Grade: 9th

“My artwork reflects how I wonder what the world would be like if it was still how God intended it to be. I included half of my face to show wonder. The top half of the world shows a place with clean water, air, and land, and the bottom half represents our world deteriorating. I hope with my art work I can show God’s glory through His beautiful creation and hopefully inspire people to continue to wonder what they can do to take care of His creation.”