First Annual Fire Prevention Week Art Contest

And we have 12 winners! On Wednesday, November 3rd, a panel of judges selected 12 winners of the first annual Fire Prevention Week Art Contest. This contest was held in all Roanoke City Public Schools during Fire Prevention Week in grades K-12. 44 students submitted their original works of art for judging. A committee consisting of Acting Assistant City Manager for Operations Jim Grigsby; Vickie Green, Marketing and Information Specialist for Roanoke’s Parks and Recreation Department; Tiffany Bradbury, Education Information Specialist for Roanoke Fire-EMS; Kris Pedelty, host of Collage, a local arts show on WCOX-9; Shawn Thorpe, M.Ed., RCPS’s Coordinator of Fine Arts Prek-12; & Vickie McCormick, RCPS’s Director for Communications judged the masterpieces using various categories. The winners were treated to a reception on Monday, November 7th at Fire Station #10. Winning artwork will also be put on display at a spot to be determined.

The winners are:
1st Place: Dakota Hale, 5th Grade – Fallon Park Elementary
Taylor Dosh, 7th Grade – William Ruffner
Spencer Borthen, 12th Grade – Patrick Henry

2nd Place: Rowan Cai, 1st Grade – Grandin Court Elementary
Evelyn Knezovich, 7th Grade – William Ruffner
Devon Ray, 10th Grade – Patrick Henry

3rd Place: Kayla Berkey, 4th Grade – Fallon Park
Jon Lovern, 8th Grade – James Madison
Philipp Schmitt, 12th Grade – Patrick Henry

Honorable Mentions: Kimani Daley, 2nd Grade – Westside Elementary
Keviajalen Engram, Kindergarten – Lincoln Terrace
Na’arja Jones, 1st Grade – Forest Park Elementary

The reception was attended by the Superintendent from Roanoke City Public Schools, Mr. Marvin Thompson and the Associate Superintendent For Instruction, August Bullock. Representatives from the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department were also in attendance consisting of Chief David Hoback, Chief Ralph Tartaglia, Chief Billy Altman, Chief Marlan Morris, Chief Bobby Slayton and the Crew at Fire Station #10. There were also many Principals, Art Specialists, Teachers and family in attendance. Please join Roanoke Fire-EMS and Roanoke City Public Schools in congratulating these students. They deserve it!

I will add that that one piece of Art is a Firefighter kneeling in front of a teddy bear. What a piece of work. I will try to get a copy for the site.