A 10th-grader from Santa Ana High School will soon have her artwork displayed on posters aimed at promoting the importance of arts education in Orange County schools.
Esmerelda Espejo, 15, was recently named the winner of Imagination Celebration’s poster contest for her design titled “A Thought Outside of the Universe.” In celebration of her winning artwork, Espejo received a $300 award, and a $200 award was given to her art teacher, Judith Westing. And what’s more, her design will be used as the official poster for the 2021 event aimed at celebrating the arts and promoting student achievement.
Two additional Orange County students were also announced as runners-up in the competition. Eighth-grader Amanda Zheng of Sierra Vista Middle School in the Irvine Unified School District and sixth-grade student Shujia Zhang of Kermes & T Art Academy, a private school in Irvine, both received a monetary reward for their respective designs.
Presented by Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education, the 36th annual county-wide Imagination Celebration festival offers free or low-cost, family-friendly events to inspire and educate local children in arts and culture.
The festival plans to run April 17 through May 30 at various locations throughout the county, offering a combination of in-person and virtual events. Dates, times, venues and other details for the festival are subject to change based on the latest health and safety guidelines provided by the state and county.
To view the winning artwork and for additional information about Imagination Celebration, please visit the Arts Orange County website.