A USD 489 student has won a statewide art contest.  Hays Middle School’s Kamree Markley won 1st place in the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Annual Conference Cover Design Art Contest.  Her teacher, Jennifer Younger, submitted the drawing last spring when Markley was in 7th grade.

This is the 3rd consecutive year that Younger has had her 7th grade students enter the contest, and every year one of her students has taken first place.

The Kansas State Department of Education holds a cover art contest every year.  Each year’s contest has a theme for the entries.  This year’s theme was “The Future’s So Bright.”

Younger told Hays Post that out of 800 entries from across the state submitted by students grades K-12, Markley’s work was chosen as the winner. As a result, she will receive $100 and her art will be on the cover all KSDE conference materials.  Also, HMS Principal Craig Pallister and Jennifer Younger will receive complimentary registration to the conference which will be held on November 5th and 6th in Wichita where Markley will be recognized.

Erik Markley, Kamree’s father, said that she hasn’t really entered any art contests in the past, but this may not be her last entry.

“We’ll support her in whatever she wants to do.  Hopefully a little of that artistic stuff runs off from her mom.”