Students, parents, teachers and community leaders gathered last Monday evening at the Okaloosa County School Board meeting to celebrate this year’s Kids Tag Art winners.
- Tax Collector Ben Anderson, Superintendent Marcus Chambers and Sheriff Eric Aden presented awards and certificates to students recognized for their artistic talent and creativity.
Now in its 13th year, the Kids Tag Art program combines art education with community support. The program gives elementary-age students the opportunity to design a personalized specialty license plate that can be displayed as artwork or mounted to the front of a vehicle. Family members and supporters may purchase the custom plates, with proceeds returning directly to the participating schools.
The program is a partnership between the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office, the Okaloosa County School District and the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, through its longstanding support of School Resource Officers across the district, has served as the primary sponsor for the past decade. This year, each participating school will receive $500.
Since the program began in 2013, Kids Tag Art has generated more than $184,000 for elementary school art programs throughout Okaloosa County through sponsorships and plate sales.
- “This program gives students an opportunity to showcase their creativity while helping support art education in our schools,” Anderson said. “It’s especially meaningful because these funds are generated through community involvement rather than taxpayer dollars.”
This year’s school winners are:
- Edge: Savannah Vandezande, Mackenzie Enke
- Bluewater: Rocky Nelson, Cassia Nivison
- Kenwood: McKenna Hatley, Eden Brush
- Longwood: Alexia Flores, Vikiany Diego Rochez
- Northwood: Victoria Yeomans, Truman Toberman
- Plew: Caitlyn Reese, Gabriel Pokorny
- Shalimar: Arilynn Bowen-Wilson, Farah Mehio
- Silver Sands: Alex Sanchez-Hollenbeck, Fallen Plemmons
- Southside: Ava Bidarian, Ophelia Paulsen
- Walker: Sophia Piccone, Asia Lowe
- Wright: Katherine Corrales, Georgiana Parcell
Special recognition awards went to:
- Tax Collector’s Choice: Annabelle Albano (Shalimar)
- Sheriff’s Choice: Jacob Aden (Shalimar)
- Superintendent’s Choice: Kaden Reeves Carte (Longwood)
