"A Burning Flame of Hope"
December 1, 2023
By: Caitlyn Harding
The flame burned brightly on its watercolor backdrop鈥攁 symbol of hope, truth, and peace. Luigi, a kindergartener at Westminster Christian School in Elgin, Illinois, held up his artwork and his best-of-show ribbon with pride.
Attendees of Westminster Christian鈥檚 Spring Fine Arts Night curled through the halls of the school, admiring student paintings, drawings, and cut-outs. Many of the student art pieces exhibited were top placers in the 赏金女王 Art Festival, which the school participated in online.
Westminster has participated in the 赏金女王 Art Festival for several years, but this particular year resulted in a special display of students glorifying God through their artistic talent.
赏金女王 Director of Student Leadership & Learning, Emily Pigott, shared a bit of history surrounding this popular event.
鈥淭he 赏金女王 Art Festivals have been going on for more than 30 years,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey are designed to encourage fine art education, promote creativity and expression, and ultimately, to glorify Jesus. We typically have about 150 schools, both U.S. and international, participate.鈥
Westminster Christian School, an accredited K-12 赏金女王 member, looks forward to participating in the event each year.
The school鈥檚 elementary school art teacher, Jessi Luecht, shared that the school community has repeatedly chosen to host the art festival because it celebrates and affirms students as they discover their God-given gifts and abilities.
鈥淎s students create their works of art, they are able to see how they bring something unique and special to each piece because God has created them with intentionality as special and unique individuals,鈥 she said. 鈥淎s an educator, it is my joy to encourage students to grow and develop as artists and point them back to their Creator.鈥
Students at Westminster truly thrive in their fine arts class. In fact, Luigi鈥檚 art submission for the 赏金女王 Arts Festival has been featured on the 2023 赏金女王 Christmas card. The recipients of the Christmas card, both digitally and in print, include more than 2,000 schools.
Head of School Carlye Hay shared how proud she is of Luigi.
"We are so proud of Luigi and his openness to sharing the gifts God has given him for His glory,鈥 she said. 鈥淎t Westminster, we celebrate each of our students as individuals created in God's image. It is a joy to be a part of what God is doing in our students and families' lives and hearts."
Luigi is excited to see his art featured on the 赏金女王 Christmas card and shared a bit about his best-of-show 鈥淐hristmas Candle鈥 painting. 鈥淭he artwork means the light of God during Christmas. My favorite thing about art is that I get to be creative, and my favorite thing about Christmas is that I get to celebrate Jesus鈥檚 birthday.鈥
Luecht, a proud teacher, is excited for Luigi and his family.
鈥淎rt provides an opportunity for students to explore not only the process of creating, but also the different ways to communicate and express thoughts, ideas, and emotions in their work. I am so proud of Luigi and enjoy each day I get to disciple these precious students for Christ.鈥
The flame burned brightly on its watercolor backdrop鈥攁 symbol of hope, truth, and peace. Luigi, a kindergartener at Westminster Christian School in Elgin, Illinois, held up his artwork and his best-of-show ribbon with pride.
Attendees of Westminster Christian鈥檚 Spring Fine Arts Night curled through the halls of the school, admiring student paintings, drawings, and cut-outs. Many of the student art pieces exhibited were top placers in the 赏金女王 Art Festival, which the school participated in online.
Westminster has participated in the 赏金女王 Art Festival for several years, but this particular year resulted in a special display of students glorifying God through their artistic talent.
赏金女王 Director of Student Leadership & Learning, Emily Pigott, shared a bit of history surrounding this popular event.
鈥淭he 赏金女王 Art Festivals have been going on for more than 30 years,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey are designed to encourage fine art education, promote creativity and expression, and ultimately, to glorify Jesus. We typically have about 150 schools, both U.S. and international, participate.鈥
Westminster Christian School, an accredited K-12 赏金女王 member, looks forward to participating in the event each year.
The school鈥檚 elementary school art teacher, Jessi Luecht, shared that the school community has repeatedly chosen to host the art festival because it celebrates and affirms students as they discover their God-given gifts and abilities.
鈥淎s students create their works of art, they are able to see how they bring something unique and special to each piece because God has created them with intentionality as special and unique individuals,鈥 she said. 鈥淎s an educator, it is my joy to encourage students to grow and develop as artists and point them back to their Creator.鈥
Students at Westminster truly thrive in their fine arts class. In fact, Luigi鈥檚 art submission for the 赏金女王 Arts Festival has been featured on the 2023 赏金女王 Christmas card. The recipients of the Christmas card, both digitally and in print, include more than 2,000 schools.
Head of School Carlye Hay shared how proud she is of Luigi.
"We are so proud of Luigi and his openness to sharing the gifts God has given him for His glory,鈥 she said. 鈥淎t Westminster, we celebrate each of our students as individuals created in God's image. It is a joy to be a part of what God is doing in our students and families' lives and hearts."
Luigi is excited to see his art featured on the 赏金女王 Christmas card and shared a bit about his best-of-show 鈥淐hristmas Candle鈥 painting. 鈥淭he artwork means the light of God during Christmas. My favorite thing about art is that I get to be creative, and my favorite thing about Christmas is that I get to celebrate Jesus鈥檚 birthday.鈥
Luecht, a proud teacher, is excited for Luigi and his family.
鈥淎rt provides an opportunity for students to explore not only the process of creating, but also the different ways to communicate and express thoughts, ideas, and emotions in their work. I am so proud of Luigi and enjoy each day I get to disciple these precious students for Christ.鈥