Submitted by Kay Parker, Optimist Club of Battle Creek, Excellence in Art Competition
The Battle Creek Optimist Club 2025 Excellence in Art Competition was a HUGE success. The competition included artwork submitted by public, private, and home school students within Calhoun County. Many different subjects and art mediums were used for these projects. All of the artwork was outstanding!
Our Club was able to award and distribute over $2,775.00 worth of prizes to student winners. We also honored two art teachers with monetary gifts and a plaque for their support of art education in our schools. Once again, we had our “Wish Tree”. Art educators submitted a list of “wishes” for art supplies. Attendees at the Art Program were given the opportunity to support the individual schools by purchasing “wishes” from the Wish Tree. In addition to the monetary amount from the wish tree, each school that participated was given a monetary gift for their art program. It was so exciting to see the faces of students as they were recognized for their imagination, talent, and hard work. The teachers were surprised and honored to be recognized for their efforts in encouraging and supporting students in the arts.
Battle Creek Optimist Club 2025 Excellence in Art Competition by the Numbers:
349 – individual student projects (170 elementary, 107 middle school, 72 high school)
32 – students involved in collaboration projects (13 projects)
525 – students involved in group projects (11 group projects)
906 – total number of students that participated
28 – art educators/mentors
20 – number of schools/groups that participated
1,200 – (over 1,200) number of people that stopped to look at the artwork during the week and/or attended the awards celebration
ART COMPETITION AWARD RECIPIENTS
Elementary:
1st place winner: Octavia Gay for “Early Spring”, Gull Lake Virtual Partnership
2nd place winner: Hattie Taylor for “Maximus”, Gull Lake Virtual Partnership
3rd place winner: Giuliana Garzelloni for “Self Portrait”, Beadle Lake Elementary
Collaboration winners (2-5 students): Alexa Bonilla & Matthew Jones for “The Friendship”, Gull Lake Virtual
Partnership
Group winners (6+ students): Coral Crafters for “Underwater Wonders”, 8 students from Minges Brook
Elementary
Middle School:
3D 1st place winner: Zoe Woodside for “The World Tree”, Gull Lake Virtual Partnership
3D 2nd place winner: Savannah Evans, Springfield Middle School
2D 1st place winner: Brady Powell, Pennfield Middle School
2D 2nd place winner: Austin Ellinger for “Nature in Pastel”, Gull Lake Virtual Partnership
Collaboration winners (2-5 students): Kaylin Husen, Celina Paige & Taiyo Wilcox for “The Mushroom Forest”, Gull
Lake Virtual Partnership
High School:
3D 1st place winner: Ryleigh Robinson, Lakeview High School
3D 2nd place winner: Allie Cook for “The Lamp”, Battle Creek Central
2D 1st place winner: Almendra Felix, Lakeview High School
2D 2nd place winner: Giana Olmstead for “Falling in the Vine”, Lakeview High School
Collaboration winners (2-5 students): Sophia Watson & Milly Riddle for “Things in Space”, Gull Lake Virtual
Partnership
Best-in-Show Overall Winner: Lillian Daniel for “New Orleans”, Lakeview High School
Teacher awards:
Art Teacher of the Year Winner: Ashley Breiler, Endeavor Charter Academy
The Art of the Optimist Winner: Stephanie Stahlhood, St. Joseph Catholic Middle School
Our location was at Lakeview Square Mall, next to Barnes & Noble, and near Horrocks and Dunhams. It was the perfect location to hold the art exhibit the week of April 20th. Over 1,200 people and children viewed the art in the community room and in kiosks in the hallway during the week. The Art Awards night was held on April 25th and was successful beyond our imagination!!
The judges of the artwork came from Kellogg Community College, and Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. They were highly impressed by the entries and the quality of the art submitted. For the third year in a row, the Kendall College of Art and Design recognized outstanding high school artists with Kendall College of Art and Design information and gifts. Overall, the evening was a great way to highlight the arts, encourage our students, and support their efforts and talents.
We could not have pulled off such a huge event without the help of our sponsors.
Bronze Sponsors (up to $99 donation): Plumeria Botanical; Sam’s Club; Harley Davidson (gift)
Silver Sponsors ($100 and above): King Jewelers; Mark Lancaster; Lakeview Ford; Burn Boot Camp; Battle Creek Family Chiropractic; Baxter Funeral & Cremation Services; Mishelle & Jakob Myers; Richard A. Henry Funeral Home & Cremation Services; Kathy & Mike Gallagher; Progressive Printing & Graphics; Bob O’Brien; Byrd’s Landing Inc; Brad Gray’s Autobody; Finley’s Grill & Smokehouse; Hodgson Heating & Cooling; Bill Richards
Gold Sponsors ($300 donation): Farley, Estes, & Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care; Heritage Chevrolet; Cheryl Orr
Platinum Sponsors ($500 donation): Burnham Family Foundation; Marsha & Jim Heath; Jackie Kackman; Anonymous donor; Cultural Arts Fund – BCCF (Grant)
Diamond Level Sponsors ($1,000 donation): Motor Shop Electrical Construction Co; Penetrator Events (Grant)
THANK YOU to all our sponsors. We appreciate your generosity and support of the youth in our community.
Be watching for details for the 2026 Excellence in Art Competition.
