Virginia Lottery Thank a Teacher Art Contest: Three top-prize winners, last week to enter

2021 Thank a Teacher Art Contest winners from left to right, Karmare Brownlee, 8th grader at Tabb Middle School in York County, Sarah Saravanan, 1st grader at McNair Lower Elementary School in Fairfax County, and Andrew Gibson, senior at Gretna High School in Pittsylvania County.
2021 Thank a Teacher Art Contest winners from left to right, Karmare Brownlee, 8th grader at Tabb Middle School in York County, Sarah Saravanan, 1st grader at McNair Lower Elementary School in Fairfax County, and Andrew Gibson, senior at Gretna High School in Pittsylvania County.

The Virginia Lottery is calling on students to submit custom artwork for the fifth annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest.

"We encourage all Virginia K-12 public school students to showcase their talents by submitting designs that demonstrate just how much they appreciate all of the Commonwealth’s dedicated educators," Public Affairs & Community Relations Director Jennifer Mullen said.

2021 Thank a Teacher Contest winning artwork by Karmare Brownlee.
2021 Thank a Teacher Contest winning artwork by Karmare Brownlee.

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One top-prize winner will be selected from each school level: elementary, middle and high.

The winners' artwork will be featured on thousands of virtual thank-you notecards. Students, parents, and the general public will be able to send the cards to deserving teachers across the state during National Teacher Appreciation Week in May.

Students who win will also receive a monetary prize of $150 in the form of a Visa gift card from the Virginia Lottery to use for art supplies.

2021 Thank a Teacher Contest winning artwork by Andrew Gibson.
2021 Thank a Teacher Contest winning artwork by Andrew Gibson.

Each school where the contest winners are enrolled will receive $2,000 for their art department, $1,000 from The Supply Room and $1,000 from the Virginia Lottery.

Students must submit original art pieces that convey their gratitude for Virginia's teachers. Visit thankateacherva.com for eligibility requirements, design criteria, prize structure, submission guidelines and to enter. The winning designs will be announced in March.

2021 winners

  • Sarah Saravanan, 1st grader at McNair Lower Elementary School in Fairfax County

  • Karmare Brownlee, 8th grader at Tabb Middle School in York County

  • Andrew Gibson, senior at Gretna High School in Pittsylvania County

"We are always looking for ways to highlight the Virginia Lottery’s mission of contributing to our K-12 public schools,” Mullen said. “We look forward each year to encouraging Virginians to thank as many teachers as possible through our Thank a Teacher campaign."

2021 Thank a Teacher Contest winning artwork by Sarah Saravanan.
2021 Thank a Teacher Contest winning artwork by Sarah Saravanan.

This contest is the collaboration of the Virginia Lottery, The Supply Room and Virginia PTA. Now, more than ever, Virginia’s teachers deserve to receive kudos. Hurry, the deadline to enter is January 31.

Contact Mullen at JMullen@valottery.com or 804-692-7770, if you have questions regarding entries.

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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia Lottery Thank a Teacher Art Contest: Three top-prize winners