Seneca O. Love receiving award…

July 26, 2006 

A fifth grader from Indian Island is among the winners of the annual 2006 Native American Student Art Competition.

Penobscot Nation member Seneca Love’s original work entitled “Sweet Dreams” won first place in the grade 3-5 division of the national competition. The competition is open to American Indian and Alaska Native students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. According to a press release from The United States Department of Education, “this year’s theme, ‘The Power To Dream, The Power To Achieve’, reflects the promise and importance for Native youths of pursuing an education. (It) also seeks to emphasize to Native youth the value of an education and to document education successes in Native communities.”

Love’s artwork was one of 1,398 student entries submitted from 32 states. All of the entries were judged by staff members from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and the Office of Indian Education. Each piece was judged on its originality, relationship of the artwork to the contest theme, creativity, composition and control of materials. Prizes were awarded in six categories according to grade level.

Cathie Carothers, acting director of the Office of Indian Education, characterized the student response to this year’s competition as “impressive.”

The winning entries were placed on display at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. as part of the agency’s Headquarters Art Exhibit Program. In September, the exhibit will relocate to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.