Elmhurst Poster Contest Winners Announced

ELMHURST, IL — The winners of the 2017 Ruth Strand poster contest have been announced. The event, sponsored by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, encourages second grade students to submit an original drawing depicting a scene from Elmhurst history.

According to a release, the contest honors Ruth Strand, the long-time director of the Elmhurst Public Library and a founding member of what is now the Elmhurst History Museum.

The museum said students from 10 Elmhurst schools participated in the contest, and members of the community voted to select the winners. The first place poster, created by Wileinne Velano of Lincoln Elementary School, was a vivid drawing featuring a horse and stand of elm trees that considered how the city of Elmhurst got its name.

Top winners of the 2017 Ruth Strand Poster Contest are:
1st Place – Wileinne Velano, Lincoln School
2nd Place – Lucy Killik, Edison School (tie)
2nd Place – Ignas Zemaitaitis, Jackson School (tie)
3rd Place – Sara Steinecker, Emerson School

According to a release, honorable mentions include: Ellie Close, Edison; Zeshawn Mughal, Emerson; Rachel Reiff, Field; Valeria Delgado, Fischer;Maeve Wicklow, Hawthorne; Elizabeth Buranakanchana, Jackson; Grant Arquilla, Jefferson; Beau Walker, Lincoln; Lilly McDonough, Visitation; and Lily Ohm, Immanuel Lutheran.

The museum said the poster contest winners were honored on May 24 at a reception at the Elmhurst History Museum. Students received gift bags from the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, and schools with ten or more participants received a donation to support their school library. The posters will be on display at the Elmhurst History Museum throughout the summer, and winning entries may be viewed at City Hall after June 5. In addition, the winners will march alongside the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation in the Elmhurst Memorial Day parade and the group will be recognized at the Elmhurst City Council meeting on June 5.

Photo provided by Elmhurst History Museum.