The Kansas State Department of Education is hosting a student art contest for the 2023 Great Ideas in Education: Empowered Together! conference. 

The purpose of the contest is to encourage students to use their creativity by entering an illustration (art conveying a visual representation of a theme or idea) for the KSDE annual conference theme – Great Ideas in Education: Empowered Together! 

The contest is open to Kansas K-12 public and private school students. Each contest entry must include the student’s name and the student’s classroom teacher’s information. 

Also: 

• All illustrations must be based upon the conference theme, Great Ideas in Education: Empowered Together.
• No artwork larger than letter-size paper (8.5 inches by 11 inches). 
• Art without words is preferred. 
• There are no limitations on the use and number of colors. 
• Acceptable media for illustrations are crayons, pencils, photos, paints, markers and computer prints. 
• Do not send collage illustrations. 
• The entry form (see attached) must be completed and included with the drawing or graphic. 

 
One winner will be selected in each of the following grade level divisions – grades kindergarten through fourth; grades fifth through eighth; and grades ninth through 12th. 

From the three grade-level winners, a first-place, second-place and third-place winner will be selected, and prizes will be awarded – third place, $75; second place, $110; and $150 for first place. 

The first-place illustration also will be featured in the conference materials. The three winning illustrations will be displayed at the conference and will be published on the KSDE website (www.ksde.org). 

The first-place winner’s sponsoring teacher and principal will receive two nontransferable complimentary registrations to the conference. The sponsoring teacher and principal of the second- and third-place winners will receive one nontransferable complimentary registration. 

Contest winners, their sponsoring teachers and principals will receive notification of contest results. 

No entries will be returned. 

See application at the bottom of this article.

Entries must be postmarked by May 26, 2023. Mail entries to Kansas State Department of Education, Attention: Pat Bone, 900 S.W. Jackson St. Suite 656, Topeka, Kansas, 66612-1212. 

For more information, contact Pat Bone, KSDE’s senior administrative specialist on the Division of Learning Services (DLS) team, by phone at 785-296-2303 or by email at pbone@ksde.org.