A pair of Union City High School art students soared in the 2020 International Aviation Art Contest, school officials announced Friday.
Elijah Cavalier placed second and Olivia Hill earned third place awards at the state level, where they faced off against 250 other competitors. The contest is held every year and is hosted by the National Association of State Aviation Officials and TDOT Aeronautics Division.
The efforts of Cavalier and Hill were honored with individual cash prizes that also earned cash prizes for the UCHS Art Department.
Their entries were also submitted to the contest’s national level competition in Washington, DC., with winners there then advancing to international competition, officials say.
Contestants, evaluated according to age and at least in part for their creative use of the theme ("Flying Yesterday and Tomorrow"), were judged in three classes.
UCHS art teacher Hilary Webb, who has taught the subject 16 years, annually has students to enter the competition, she said, and she was happy to see two students do well.
"These opportunities show who really is interested in art and their imagination. “Sometimes, as a teacher, you have to push students, and other times, their natural interest and hidden talent comes out in these competitions. I always find it rewarding to see their ideas and talents make their way onto whatever canvas is used.”
A banquet to formerly recognize state-level winners that was tentatively scheduled for the Lebanon Municipal Airport for early May has been canceled.
NOTE: Cavalier and Hill are pictured with smaller replicas of their winning state entries as the originals have not yet been returned from the national competition .