Striving to
Reach and
Motivate
Students

Recently, Stephanie Ringler, a 13 year-old seventh-grade student at Smokey Road Middle School, was the winner of The Atlanta Parent Magazine's Black History Month Visionary Art Contest.

With that honor, she and her family will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. Also, her entry was published in the February edition of The Atlanta Parent's Magazine, and is displayed as the tray liners in more than seventy area McDonald's restaurants.

Stephanie's other impressive artwork has been on displayed at the 2008 National Fair Exhibit Contest in Perry, GA. Stephanie won numerous awards for her talented, artistic abilities.

While attending Smokey Road Middle School, Stephanie was introduced to the wonderful world of art by Art Teacher, Ms. Lisa Fell and she was encouraged to pursue her artistic skills by her last year's Literature teacher, and mentor, Mrs. Tanya Jones.

Stephanie chose the theme, “My African-American Hero” for her artwork entry. She wanted to create a drawing based on someone special and include a historical perspective.

The winning artwork, thus depicted Stephanie and Mrs. Tanya Jones, hand-in-hand. The background represented a “timeline” of important African-American icons that essentially portrayed a message of transition from slavery to freedom.