Eileen Zheng stands with her Shawnee pride-themed winning artwork from a contest and fundraiser sponsored by the Shawnee High School PTO. Student artwork will be printed on the front of reusable bags available for purchase through the PTO.
The Art Contest and Fundraiser sponsored by the Shawnee PTO that ran from March 1 to 17 enabled students to submit artwork, with a chance to have it printed on two reusable bags.
One of the bags is for regular shopping, and the other is a cold bag with insulation. The drawing contest’s criteria meant students had to show “Shawnee Pride” and include an original and school appropriate 5-by-5-inch piece. Entries also had to incorporate the Shawnee PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and be mindful that their work would be printed on a navy blue bag with white print.
The winner selected by the PTO on March 18 was Shawnee sophomore Eileen Zheng, who also received a $100 amazon gift card. PTO Treasurer Dawn Hoover addressed Zheng’s winning piece, which includes highlights of science, drama, art and sports.
“The art that was selected was something that we felt that really encompassed all aspects of being prideful of being at Shawnee,” Hoover explained. “So when you see the design, you’ll see that it includes the Shawnee “S,” and then all the different types of activities that Shawnee offers.
“This one we felt just spoke to the many facets of Shawnee.”
The Shawnee PTO’s initiative coincides with the new state bag mandate going into effect May 4 that will ban bags and other single-use plastic items at retail grocery and food stores statewide. With the mandate coming soon, the PTO saw an opportunity to collaborate with local Medford businesses like Roast Coffee Co., Zallies ShopRite of Medford and McDyer AllState to encourage adherence to the ban and support the school and environmental awareness.
Zheng’s artwork will be printed on the front half of the reusable bags, with sponsors on the back side, and they can be purchased only through the Shawnee PTO. The funds raised by bag purchases will further help the PTO support events later in the year.
“And I think that’s really what we’re trying to say, is that, ‘Hey, we’re all going to be in this situation where we’re going to be required to have bags, (so) why not couple that with displaying a talented young student at Shawnee high school’s work,” said Hoover. “And while we’re at it, raise money for an organization that’s going to put all that money back into that same school.
“It feels like a triple win,”
The plan for the spring is that reusable bags will be distributed at Shawnee in late April, in time for the state mandate. Hoover also noted that the Shawnee PTO began last fall and what the organization is all about.
“We are trying so hard to get more companies and more parents, more community members aware of us and what we’re trying to do for the students and the staff and the community of Shawnee High School,” she said.
To purchase reusable bags, email the PTO at shawneehspto@gmail.com and visit it on Instagram and Twitter at @Shawneehspto.
