East Harlem School Could Win $75K In Shoe Design Competition

EAST HARLEM, NY — A team of East Harlem high school students could win $75,000 for their school's art program after being named finalists in a shoe design competition.

East Harlem's Central Park East High School, located on East 106th Street near Madison Avenue, was chosen as one of fifty finalists in the 2019 Vans Custom Culture design competition, according to the shoe company. The competition tasked students with designing two pairs of Vans shoes that reflect their local communities.

"Through our students’ work, we hope to show that East Harlem is a place of hard-working people, loving families, culture, diversity, and history," an impact statement submitted by the school reads.

The shoes designed by Central Park East High School students reflect two themes that are part of everyday life in East Harlem — street art and the subway. Art teacher Dom Difiglio told ABC7 News that students came to school 90 minutes early every day for six weeks to collaborate on the design.

"When the students saw the white shoes they got really excited, it was real then," Difiglio told the news station.

The top five designs will all win prizes, but each school is gunning for the 75,000 grand prize for the competition's winner. The money would "revolutionize" the arts program at Central Park East High School, which currently has an annual arts budget of $800, according to the school's impact statement.

"Not only wouldbwe have the means to purchase new supplies such as quality paints, pencils, and canvases, but we could also establish new art courses to foster our students’ creativity," the statement reads.

If Central Park East High School wins the $75,000 prize the school will create a photography program for its students. The program will be launched with a project called "We are El Barrio," in which groups of students will be tasked with photographing local residents, business owners, community leaders and activists. The project would culminate in a free exhibit where the photos are displayed on the school building's walls.

You can cast vote in the design contest by visiting Vans' website. Voting closes May 3.