Students from schools in Niceville excelled in the 2020  Okaloosa Arts Alliance Poster Contest. Alyssa Lilli Kleiser, a first-grade student at Edge Elementary School, was the first place winner in the K5-4 division, and Cailyn Barnes, a fifth-grade student at Edge Elementary School, won first place in the middle school division (5-7).

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla — Students from schools in Niceville excelled in the 2020  Okaloosa Arts Alliance Poster Contest. Alyssa Lilli Kleiser, a first-grade student at Edge Elementary School, was the first place winner in the K5-4 division, and Cailyn Barnes, a fifth-grade student at Edge Elementary School, won first place in the middle school division (5-7).

Lauryn Ford, a ninth-grade student who is home-schooled and attends Acellus Academy, won first place in the high school division.

Each 1st place prize was a $75 gift card, generously donated by Eglin Federal Credit Union; each 2nd place prize was a $50 gift card; and each 3rd place prize was a $25 gift card.

This year, due to COVID-19, the Okaloosa Arts Alliance asked participants to share what they have been doing or seeing during COVID-19. All 77 entries are posted online for everyone to go enjoy. To see all the entries go online to https://www.okaloosaarts.org/annual-school-poster-contest-contest-gallery.html

Being an unusual school year, most entries are from students instead of full schools participating and organizers wish to say thank you to every student who entered.

Participating schools include Rocky Bayou Christian School, Crestview High School, Niceville High School, Liza Jackson Preparatory School, Edge Elementary, Destin Elementary & Middles School, Homeschool, Okaloosa STEMM Academy, Meigs Middle School, Ruckel Middle School, Lewis Elementary &  Middle School, Plew Elementary, Walker Elementary, Shalimar Elementary, Kenwood Elementary, Bluewater Elementary and Northwood Elementary.

The winners and honorable mentions are as follows:

Elementary (K5-4)

First Place, Alyssa Lilli Kleiser, 1st Grade, Edge Elementary School

Second Place, Caden Crawley-4th Grade, Plew Elementary School

Third Place, Lexi Schrand, 4th Grade, Destin Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Eva Rose Harte, 2nd grade, Edge Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Azari Rucker, 2nd grade, Walker Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Ava Harder, 4th grade, Plew Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Delaney Diehl, 4th grade, Edge Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Kaytlyn Cardenas, 2nd grade, Edge Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Evelyn Barnes, 1st grade, Plew Elementary

Honorable Mention: Reagan Rollins, 1st grade, Liza Jackson Preparatory School

Honorable Mention: Carter Deering, 4th grade, Plew Elementary

Middle (5-7)

First Place, Cailyn Barnes, 5^th Grade, Edge Elementary School

Second Place, Na’imah Ford, Year 7, Okaloosa STEMM Academy

Third Place, Shayrett Colon-Malavet, 7^th grade, Lewis Middle School

Honorable Mention: Briana Romero, 7^th grade, Meigs Middle School

Honorable Mention: Sam Magee, 5^th Grade, Shalimar Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Adelaide Sandwith, 5^th Grade, Liza Jackson Preparatory School

Honorable Mention: Joel Barnes, 5^th grade, Plew Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Luci Schrand,  6^th grade, Destin Middle School

Honorable Mention: Star Grays, 6^th grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School

Honorable Mention: Izzy Deverse, 5^th grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School

Honorable Mention: Peyton Early, 5^th grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School

Honorable Mention: Luke Franklin, 7^th grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School

Honorable Mention: Rachel Compton, 5^th grade, Edge Elementary School

Honorable Mention: Rowan Bundren, 5^th grade, Homeschool

High (8-12)

First Place, Lauryn Ford, 9^th Grade, Homeschool/Acellus Academy

Second Place, Virginia Wells, 9^th Grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School

Third Place, Briana Busbee, 9^h Grade, Crestview High School

Honorable Mention: Jhett Ann McCosker, 10th Grade, Crestview High School

Honorable Mention:  Anna Christian, 11^th grade, Crestview High School

Honorable Mention: Karlie Baxley, 11^th grade, Crestview High School

Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Tillis, 9^th grade, Crestview High School

Honorable Mention: Angel Zhang, 11^th grade, Crestview High School

Honorable Mention: Petra Hoffman, 8^th grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School

Honorable Mention: Sophia Bouchette, 8^th grade, Destin Middle School

Honorable Mention: Madeline Mitchell, 8^th grade, Ruckel Middle School

About the Okaloosa Arts Alliance-The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) is the designated non-profit arts agency for Okaloosa County.  The purpose of OAA is to support and promote art and culture in Okaloosa County. The Okaloosa Arts Alliance enhances the cultural environment of its community, and promotes, coordinates, and nurtures high-quality arts and cultural resources that enrich the lives of residents and visitors.  The OAA is supported in part by the Florida Department of State and from Arts auto license tag revenues but could not exist without its members and community support.   Go to www.okaloosaarts.org for more information.