LT Students Among Winners of 2014 Illinois Tollway Art Contest

Lyons Tonwship High School students Vlad Malinovic and Austin Rice have been named runners-up in the 2014 Illinois Tollway Map Cover Art Contest, according to a news release from the Illinois Tollway. 

Crystal Thorns, a senior at Lincoln-Way North High School in Frankfort, is the grand prize winner. Nathan Eisenhut from Downers Grove North High School was the third runner up. 

High school students in the 12 counties served by the Illinois Tollway were invited to submit original works of art based on this year’s contest theme – work zone safety. The contest was sponsored by the Illinois Tollway, Blick Art Materials and U.S. Equities, according to the release. 

“As the cover of the 2014 Illinois Tollway map, Crystal’s artwork will serve as a constant reminder to drivers about the need to drive safely in work zones,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said in a statement. “We thank all of the students who participated and their art teachers for their guidance, which helped make the contest a great success.”

The Tollway received 65 entries from student artists attending 16 high schools throughout the region, from Chicago to Rockford, and 10 semi-finalists were selected for public voting. Nearly 22,000 people voted 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 U.S. Equities, according to the release. 

Thorns said in a statement that she's "thrilled" that her work will contribute to efforts to promote work zone safety on the tollway. 

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

Artwork created by the grand prize winner will be featured on the cover of the Tollway’s 2014 map, which is distributed at no cost to more than 125,000 customers. Artwork created by the runners-up will be featured in the Tollway’s annual report. 

“Blick Art Materials is thrilled to see the level of participation in the student art contest,” said Chief Executive Bob Buchsbaum. “We are excited about the future with so many innovative designs from our young students.”

Information courtesy of a news release from the Illinois Tollway.