Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Grace Sullins Took Home Top Recognition in Countywide Art Contest
Grace Sullins of Babson Park joins Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder in installing her winning design on the front of Tedder's truck. Sullins won the honor in competition with students from every fifth grade class in Polk County. Her colorful design features a smiling shark and underwater scene.
A large crowd of artists and their parents gathered for the awards ceremony in Lakeland on Thursday as Grace Sullins of Babson Park Elementary took home top honors.
Babson Park Elementary student Grace Sullins now has the special honor of having her license tag design mounted on the front of Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder's truck.
Sullins is this year's special Tax Collector's Choice Award recipient. Sullins won the special recognition in The Kids Tag Art (KTA) program, created by Tedder in Polk County.
The Kids Tag Art (KTA) program now spans 15 counties across Florida, inspiring fifth grade student artists to create their own unique specialty license tags to be purchased as a fundraiser for elementary school art programs.
"Creative things are important, and it helps you for your future and it helps our society," Tedder said. "For talented people like Grace, it's going to be amazing as an adult. She's already started on a great future," Tedder said.
Her specialty tag was installed on the front of Tedder's vehicle after the ceremony on Thursday night.
The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC) recognizes top designs from each participating public, charter, and private school every year; at least two students from each school are named Award of Distinction (AoD) recipients.
The local community can support elementary school art programs by purchasing tag art at http://www.KidsTagArt.com, with all proceeds going back into the classroom for arts education. Participating KTA Tax Collector offices throughout the state are celebrating reaching the $2 million mark in funds raised for art programs over the years. Teachers have been able to use what's raised to purchase valuable items like classroom supplies.
Part of the goal of the KTA program is to nurture interest in the arts and help teachers supply classrooms, but to also reach students in a positive way as an introduction to the very office they will eventually visit for services.
"We want Kids Tag Art to be such positive outreach to young people, early on, and to set a friendly foundation for government and what we do in the Tax Collector's Office." Tedder added.
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