Whiz Kids: Talent Runs in the Segal Family

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In elementary school, it’s common to spend time drawing. For two siblings at Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School, this common hobby helped them win a statewide contest.

Kindergartner Samantha “Sami” Segal  and fifth-grader Jake Segal have both won the Road Traffic Safety Art Contest. 

Sami won second place in the K-1^st grade category, and Jake won third place in the 5^th-6^th grade category after being entered into the contest by their art teacher, Crystal Dunn.

Dunn gave the students two weeks to enter a drawing for the Road Safety Art Contest. 

“The contest rules were to make a picture that depicts being safe driving on the road, what does a daily road worker have to be careful of, and what do the drivers have to be aware of,” Dunn said.

The winning artwork will be featured on the American Traffic Safety Services Association website and will be part of the Road Traffic Calendar next year.  In addition, they also each received a cash prize.

Four other students from Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School also won in the competition: fourth-graders Julija Paskevicius and Lea Rola, second-grader Karolina Bocul and fifth-grader Maddie Rola.

“I am so proud of all the students that won the competition, and I am so excited that they were recognized for their amazing artistic abilities,” Dunn said.

This isn’t the first contest either of the two siblings has won. They both have won Halloween art contests for school, religious school contests and other community art contests.

“Jake and Sami have enjoyed drawing as far back as I can remember,” said Abby Segal, Jake and Sami’s mother. “They are fortunate to have a grandfather and grandmother that also share their love for art.”

Jake has taken four years of formal art classes. Sami has never taken any formal classes, but plans to start next year in first grade.

“Sami just really loves to draw,” Segal said.  “I think they both truly enjoy expressing themselves through drawing.  It is a fun, creative outlet that they both excel in.”

Segal hopes that Jake and Sami will continue to draw in the future and take more classes to further their talent.

“We are so proud of Jake and Sami. It is wonderful to see how much they both love drawing,” Segal said.

Jake and Sami found out they won the contest, along with several other winners from Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School, at a school assembly. 

“They were so surprised and happy,” Segal said. “It was very special to see them both win together.”