With the stroke of a pencil, Scottsburg High School students were able to transform familiar Scott County landmarks into works of art all while raising money for the United Way of Scott County.
“I like the creativity about it. I see something I can put my own spin on it,” SHS senior Lauren Royse said.
For three weeks, the SHS students worked on the 2-D drawings of familiar Scott County spots — the train depot, Lake Iola, the gazebo on the Courthouse Square, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Public Library, the Ross Country Jamboree, Bethel Baptist Church, and several others. Each student had to do their own research and chose their own landmarks to draw using a grid technique to make sure the proportions were correct, said Melissa Lyles, SHS art teacher. The students could keep the drawings in grayscale or add color the drawing with colored pencils.
“Many students chose places close to where they live or where they grew up,” Lyles said.
The idea to make it a fundraiser for the United Way of Scott County came after the junior board members suggested it to Executive Director Nancy Riley. Riley said she saw something similar on social media and the junior board members, consisting of local high school students, put their spin on it by using the artwork of students and social media silent auctioning.
“We wanted to think of something unique and involve the students in the community,” said Jesse Mays, a SHS senior and junior board member. “We wanted to encourage talents that are not always recognized.”
Mays met with Lyles about the project, and the United Way of Scott County put photos of the students’ drawings on its Facebook account. The drawings were also displayed at the Regional Business Expo, hosted at SHS.
“I hope that students will see that they are talented artists and their artwork was valued by members of the community,” Lyles said. “The United Way of Scott County is a great community organization. It was a great way for my students to give back to the community through art.”
The items were auctioned to businesses and individuals, raising more than $2,300 for the United Way of Scott County.
“If I can help with a little drawing, why not?” Royse said.
The money raised will go toward the programs and allocated agencies the United Way of Scott County supports, Riley said. One of those programs, the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, provides free books each month to Scott County, Indiana, children, who are ages 5 and younger. The program allows Scott County parents and guardians to sign up their children to receive a free book each month in the mail. There are no income guidelines to meet, so any child residing in Scott County from the ages of birth to 5-years-old can receive a free book.
“I like that there’s no fee. It’s an opportunity for all the people that is equal. It doesn’t take anything to sign up,” said Mays, explaining her favorite program the United Way of Scott County supports.
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