Lincoln-Way West Senior Wins Tollway Cover Art Contest

Lincoln-Way West High School senior Jessica Karlic is the grand prize winner of the 2015 Illinois Tollway Map Cover Art Contest.

High school students in the 12 counties served by the Illinois Tollway were invited to submit original works of art based on this year’s contest theme—tired driving. The contest was sponsored by the Illinois Tollway, Blick Art Materials and CBRE/U.S. Equities.

“I’m thrilled that my artwork will contribute to efforts to promote the danger of tired driving on the Illinois Tollway,” said Jessica Karlic, contest grand prize winner.

Jessica received the award at the Tollway Board meeting on Thursday, November 20 in Chicago. Her artwork will be used as the cover of the 2015 Tollway Map.

“The challenge given to the student artists this year was to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while tired. Jessica’s winning entry delivers a strong and compelling message that tired driving leads to serious and sometimes deadly consequences,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur in a news release from the Tollway. “We thank all of the students who participated and their art teachers for their guidance, which helped make the contest a great success.”

Altogether, the Tollway received 66 entries from student artists attending 18 high schools throughout the region, from Chicago to Rockford, and 10-semi-finalists were selected for public voting. Nearly 9,300 votes by the general public were recorded online to identify four finalists, with the overall winner and runners-up selected by a panel of judges including members of the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors and representatives from CBRE/U.S. Equities.

Students selected as runners-up in the contest include:

· First runner-up – Cassandra Flick, James B. Conant H.S. in Hoffman Estates

· Second runner-up –Claire Kozik, Downers Grove North H.S. in Downers Grove

· Third runner-up- Kevin McDonald, Reavis High School in Burbank

“I am extremely proud of the work Jessica did on the Tollway Map Cover Art contest. Her piece delivers a strong message about the dangers of tired driving to all drivers,” said Phil Labriola, art teacher and Lincoln-Way District 210 art department chair.

Jessica, as grand prize winner, was presented with $400 in gift certificates from Blick Art Materials and $200 in gift certificates from CBRE/U.S. Equities to use at oases retail shops and restaurants. The runners-up received $200 in gift certificates from Blick Art Materials and $100 in gift certificates from CBRE/ U.S. Equities according to a Tollway media release.