Winners Announced In Illinois Tollway 2016 Map Cover Art Contest

Submitted by the Illinois Tollway.

The Illinois Tollway today announced that Theresa Kerouac, a sophomore at Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, is the grand prize winner of the 2016 Illinois Tollway Map Cover Art Contest.

High school students in the 12 counties served by the Illinois Tollway were invited to submit original works of art created to promote the conservation of monarch butterflies, the state insect of Illinois. The contest was sponsored by the Illinois Tollway, Blick Art Materials and MB Real Estate Services Inc. (MBRE).

Students selected as runners-up in the contest include:

• First runner-up – Perri Bentley, Bolingbrook High School in Bolingbrook (photo 2)

• Second runner-up – Cecilia Schmitt, Hononegah High School in Rockton (photo 3)

• Third runner-up – Anna Peterson, Rockford Christian High School in Rockford (photo 4)

“The Tollway map cover contest gives young artists a great opportunity to learn how art can promote an idea and bring awareness to so many,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Greg Bedalov. “We are honored that Theresa Kerouac’s winning artwork will appear on the cover of the Tollway’s 2016 system map and will raise awareness for monarch habitat conservation efforts in Illinois.”

In all, the Tollway received more than 75 entries from 33 schools throughout the region and 10 semi-finalists were selected for public voting. More than 27,000 votes by members of the general public were cast online to identify four finalists, with the overall winner and runners-up selected by a panel of judges including members of the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors and representatives from MBRE.

“I enjoyed making this art piece and learning about monarchs for the Illinois Tollway art contest,” said contest grand prize winner Theresa Kerouac. “This was a great opportunity and I would like to thank my amazing art teacher, Mrs.Bielski.”

While monarchs are found across the United States – as recently as 1996 numbering some 1 billion – their numbers have declined by approximately 90 percent in recent years, a result of numerous threats, particularly loss of habitat due to agricultural practices, development and cropland conversion, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Entries submitted by student artists focused on the importance of monarch butterflies to the environment and the use of land along interstate highways to provide a food source and refuge for monarch butterflies through Northern Illinois.

The artwork of the 10 semi-finalists, including the winning entries, is currently on display at each of six Illinois Tollway oases.

“With the inspiring theme chosen for the contest this year, promoting the conservation and rebuilding of monarch butterfly habitats, the participants created some truly magnificent works of art,” said Alma Becerra, general manager of MBRE. “We are very proud to be new co-sponsors of such a worthy endeavor.”

Artwork created by the grand prize winner will be featured on the cover of the Tollway’s 2016 map, which is distributed at no cost to more than 100,000 customers. Artwork created by the winner and runners-up will be featured in the Tollway’s annual report. Awards presented to the finalists include:

• The grand prize winner was presented with $400 in gift certificates from Blick Art Materials and $200 in gift certificates from MBRE to use at oases retail shops and restaurants.
• The runners-up received $200 in gift certificates from Blick Art Materials and $100 in gift certificates from MBRE.
• All students who participated in the contest received a certificate of appreciation from the Tollway.

“Blick Art Materials congratulates the student finalists for their prize-winning entries and thank all who participated,” said Blick Art Materials Chief Executive Bob Buchsbaum. “We are proud to co-sponsor the Tollway student art contest annually and never fail to be impressed with the quality and creativity of the students’ artwork.”