MANATEE — When 8-year-old Trinity Miller’s teacher asked her to create her dream home on a sheet of construction paper in art class, she got to work and painted a multicolored mansion complete with a garden on the roof.
Strangely, it didn’t have a pool — an amenity children often desire.
“I couldn’t fit one on the paper,” the third-grade girl said with a giggle.
Miller was one of six Bashaw Elementary School students who won the Neal Communities’ “My Favorite Home” art contest.
All 671 students at the school participated in the challenge sponsored by the Lakewood Ranch-based home builder that is one of Bashaw’s business partners.
In the end, one winner from each grade was chosen by a group of 18 judges, which included members of the Manatee County school board and county commission. Winners are Jessie Zhuo, kindergarten; Khashaunti Hall, first grade; Logan Mason, second grade; Miller, third grade; Kyle Kennedy, fourth grade; and Bernaldo Maxime, fifth grade.
This is the 10th year that Neal Communities has organized the event and donated funds for art supplies to area schools. One of the winning designs will be used on the Neal Communities’ 2009 Holiday Greeting Card.
When she introduced the project, art teacher Rose Stock asked the students if they had millions of dollars what their dream home would look like.
Students selected shapes, picked colors, designed the doors and windows and applied details such as roof shingles, flowers and even animals, said Bashaw assistant principal Tina Stancil. They used various media including tissue paper, markers, crayons and foil to create the home, all colorful, bright and imaginative, Stancil said Thursday.
Stock, who has been teaching art in Manatee schools for 19 years, used the competition to teach shapes, home design and other academic aspects.
“The students were so excited to do this project,” she said. “Even students with special needs got involved and loved the program. I’m just so proud of them. They really worked so hard to create the home they’d like to live in someday.”
Trinty said she was proud she won.
“It was so pretty,” she said of her creation.
The judges had a tough time making their decisions, said Bashaw principal Ron Hirst.
“There were a lot of out-of the-box drawings. It’s a good thing they allow them to use their imaginations,” said Manatee County Commissioner Gwen Brown, one of the judges. “Who knows, we may have the next architect or developer here.”
Like Trinity’s classmate and fellow winner Logan, age 8.
Logan said he now wants to build his house — complete with a fence, striped roof and a purple front door.
“I’m so impressed with the quality of the work,” said Neal Communities’ President Pat Neal. “We value the relationship with our public schools as vital components of our community.”
Manatee schools Superintendent Tim McGonegal, another judge, commended Neal Communities for its partnership with schools.
“It is so good that we have maintained our arts programs here in the county,” McGonegal said. “The arts provide balance for students and serve as an attractor for many. They complement academics.”
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