2024-2025

Kansas-Missouri Winners

Elementary School

Aarul’s Artist Statement: “The Future is bright, if you want to know why, then please read my essay. I first started to think if we do not use fossil fuels then we will be using lots of renewable sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, geo-thermal energy and hydro energy. In my art work I made a happy earth and 4 boxes which say we will be using renewable sources. At the bottom I have made a bee with flower, electric car, tree, cow, man riding on a bicycle, pollution and diseases are going down and kids playing happily. This means there will be happy animals as we will not be cutting so many trees and their habitats will be safe, people will be in electric cars so there will be less pollution, kids can play in cleaner, less polluted environment. I think we need solar panels on houses, schools and all other buildings. And the next thing I have to say is about wind energy - all the farms need to have wind mills which look like giant fans. Geo-thermal energy is energy which comes from the core of the earth. Lastly, hydro energy that comes from water. Fun fact: 71% of earth is water. I hope people understand the importance of using renewable energy and start moving towards these instead of fossil fuels. The future is bright, I see it, Do you?”

Middle School

Tvisha’s Artist Statement: “In my artwork, I addressed the question, What will your community look like when we are not using fossil fuels for energy in 20-30 years? I researched how the future could look with clean energy sources such as wind power, solar energy, geothermal power, bioenergy, and hydropower replacing fossil fuels. To show this, I drew symbols for each energy source. On the left side of my drawing, I drew the clean energy sources, and on the right side, I showed their benefits, like cleaner air, healthier lives, lower energy bills, and more job opportunities. I also included symbols to represent these benefits on both sides of my artwork. In my work, I want to show that renewable energy can make our planet healthier and happier. If we stop using fossil fuels, life will change. I created my artwork in a simple and colorful way so everyone can understand how I think of it. Clear symbols helped me show how much better the future can be. The art competition encouraged me to use art materials in a new way, allowing me to share my ideas about the future. Through my artwork, I hope people will learn how life can be cleaner and better without fossil fuels. I learned that even small changes, like using renewable energy sources, can make a big difference. What inspired me was thinking about the future, as I learned that fossil fuels aren’t good for the planet.”

Medha’s Artist Statement: “I addressed the challenge question by showing how fossil fuels damage the environment and your health. It is important to know what is good for you and it is important to know what is good around you. What I am trying to say in my artwork is that fossil fuels are an awful thing that has been destroying our world. I drew a tree in the present life and that tree was ruined from the fossil fuels, but in the afterlife, I drew a perfectly fine tree that has all the leaves and isn’t ruined. The reason I drew my artwork the way I wanted it to be because I want people to visualize that fossil fuels are a poor thing in our lives and can be the worst for our health. I made my artwork like that so people know how our lives are right now and then in the future. Yes, it indeed did. It made me visualize how I wanted it to look from my perspective. I hope people learn that fossil fuels are nasty for the environment and us. I want people to get inspired and start using renewable energy which is better for the world to be a better place and for you to be a healthy person. I learned that fossil fuels don’t just destroy the environment and your health but it destroys the world. If we continue to use fossil fuels in the future, we won’t have a place to live anymore. It inspired me to stop using examples of fossil fuels. Coal, oil, and natural gas are all examples of fossil fuels.”

High School

Nicolette’s Artist Statement: “My artwork presents a new alternative world in 20-30 years where we have embraced clean energy and avoided using fossil fuels. In this ideal environment, we have implemented sustainable energy sources in every aspect of our lives. For example, the house uses solar panels to promote green energy. The wind turbines generate energy that can be used to power the majority of the city. Bicyclists also promote sustainable, green energy by avoiding using gas-powered cars that harm our ecosystem. In this future, I envision a society where cities and communities are designed to be eco-friendly, with green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. I hope my artwork will inspire people to consider implementing alternative green energy sources that will be sustainable in the long term. I hope people reconsider the implications of the harmful energy sources they are currently using. What may seem like small decisions now, in reality, will have a crucial impact on our ecosystem in the future. I was inspired to amplify measures I already see taken currently to illustrate an ideal environment. Currently, I see solar panels occasionally on houses and buildings. However, in this ideal world, 30-40 years in the future, every building will include solar panels.”

Soledad’s Artist Statement: “In this piece, I incorporated the ideas of the future generations if the use of clean energy is applied. In the bottom right corner there is a young girl smiling, this is to represent the happiness of our world if we stay on the path of using clean energy. Initially my idea was showing how everything is connected which I displayed by centering the house and arranging the sun and wind around the house. Another aspect of connection that I applied was the outlets and their relation to the house representing everyday life and use of energy. I hope people will learn the importance of conserving energy along with using clean energy for the future generations. My initial inspiration struck when I was driving to California and saw all the windmills and solar panels. I thought about how those inventions have created clean usable energy to conserve the environment. My drawing was supposed to draw the eye from the center out, showing the importance of mankind in this process of conservation. Something I learned from this project is that energy conservation starts with one household and causes a ripple effect from cities, to nations, to the world.”

Helen’s Artist Statement: “My name is Helen Stechschulte and I am a sophomore in high school in Prairie Village, Kansas. I found this contest online and it caught my attention because I could study and highlight the state that I am proud to be from. When I think about the future of the world, I think about the problem solving and innovation that I hope my generation will bring. If we are able to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel and improve the climate, we could see the return of endangered species. I chose to depict Topeka Shiners in my painting for several reasons. First, they are an endangered species from Kansas, named after one of our iconic cities. Second, they are very small, about the size of minnows. I do believe the small things are very important. If small species start returning to our rivers and lakes, the effects could translate to entire ecosystems. Also, small changes start with us. Little improvements in our lives can have large effects on the planet. I chose to use watercolors for my artwork to try to convey water that the fish are in. I also liked the mix of colors I could get with the watercolors to show light. The light beams going through the water represent our knowledge and recognition of the fish as endangered. We might not be aware of small creatures or certain problems in our world if we don’t shine the light of curiosity on them.”

Kansas-Missouri Runner-Ups

High School

Kaitlyn’s Artist Statement: “As we avoid using fossil fuels, the air will be cleaner, our landscapes will be greener, and the world will appear happier and healthier. In this artwork, I communicate how harnessing wind and solar energy using eco-friendly technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels will help create a cleaner tomorrow. The trees are placed in harmony with the city and the entire landscape is surrounded by vibrant shades of green and blue, indicating the clean air. When creating this piece, I juxtaposed the lightly colored-pencil picture with technologies drawn in gel pen to emphasize their contribution to this idealized future. Through my artwork, I hope people will learn that a cleaner, healthier, and happier future environment is possible if we focus on harnessing energy from cleaner sources.”