Tennessee Teacher and Students Win ETSU Art Contest

Heather Atlee proved that the best art projects bring everyone together, and now her whole school is celebrating.

The STEM teacher at South Side Elementary School in Johnson City, Tennessee, just won one of six grand prizes in East Tennessee State University's STEM and Art Contest. But she didn't do it alone.

Atlee worked with students from kindergarten through fifth grade to create an owl sculpture that represents their entire school community. The artwork features decorative badges bearing the names and grades of students at South Side, turning a creative project into a celebration of every child.

The sculpture will be displayed at ETSU, giving the students a chance to see their work showcased at the university level. South Side Elementary will receive their grand prize award on May 12.

The Ripple Effect

This win shows how art education can build community and confidence at the same time. Every student who participated can now say they contributed to an award-winning piece displayed at a university.

For many of these kindergarteners and first graders, seeing their names on a prize-winning sculpture might be their first experience with public recognition for creative work. That kind of early encouragement can spark lifelong confidence in their abilities.

The project also demonstrates how STEM and art naturally complement each other. By combining technical skills with creative expression, Atlee showed her students that science and art aren't separate subjects but powerful partners.

When a teacher invests time in including every student, the whole community wins together.