Elementary students from across the Martin County School District were recently named winners of this year’s Kids Tag Art Contest, highlighting creativity and community partnership.
Now in its eighth year, the Kids Tag Art Contest is a partnership between the Martin County Tax Collector’s Office, MartinArts, and the Martin County School District. The program challenges students to creatively solve problems by designing original vanity license plates, while supporting art education across the district. Proceeds from tag sales are returned directly to school art programs.
“This partnership gives our students a meaningful way to express their creativity while seeing how their work can make a real impact,” said Superintendent Michael Maine. “We are grateful to the Martin County Tax Collector’s Office for investing in our schools and helping inspire the next generation of creative thinkers.”
Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski and Martin County Schools Coordinator Mark Cowles visited elementary campuses to surprise this year’s winners. Winning designs and all student submissions are available for purchase as license plates, bike plates, or keychains, allowing families to proudly showcase student artwork. Designs can be purchased here.
Winners will be recognized at a special ceremony in the Martin County School District Board Room at 1939 SE Federal Highway in Stuart on April 14 at 6 p.m.
Bessey Creek Elementary Principal Elizabeth Atkinson, Keira Lacombe ("Catch of the Day" Award Winner), Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Art Teacher William Henderson
JD Parker Principal Greg Bottari, Anahi Mijares, Art Teacher Leah Sacks, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski
Bessey Creek Elementary Principal Elizabeth Atkinson, Valentina Encarnacion ("Life is Better By the Water" Award Winner), Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Art Teacher William Henderson
Bessey Creek Elementary Principal Elizabeth Atkinson, Arianna Jenkins, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Art Teacher William Henderson
Palm City Elementary Principal Lauren Rabener, Emma Savarese, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Art Teacher Martha Saum
Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Savannah Baker, Citrus Grove Elementary Art Teacher Stephanie Watson
Palm City Elementary Principal Lauren Rabener, Eliza Acevedo ("America the Beautiful" Award Winner), Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Art Teacher Martha Saum
Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Port Salerno Elementary Principal David Shaffer, Carlos Lopez Perez, Art Teacher Ashley Monks
Crystal Lake Elementary Principal Brenda Watkins, Assistant Principal Jennifer Parker, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Pablo Ferullo, Art Teacher Joelle Farley
Felix A Williams Elementary Principal Sarah Tuthill, Art Teacher Laura Pryor, Julietta Cedeno, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski
The Pinewood Elementary Principal Susanna Deutsch, Art Teacher Sheryl Odza, Emily Cook, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski
Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Seawwind Elementary Art Teacher Claudia Gonzalez, Gianella Gousen Montenegro (Award of Distinction), Seawind Elementary Principal Jennifer Michels
Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Seawind Elementary Art Teacher Claudia Gonzalez, Olivia Taylor, Seawind Elementary Principal Jennifer Michels
Warfield Elementary Principal Adelle Sumner, Joshua Hernandez Son, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski
Jensen Beach Elementary Art Teacher Karen Haines, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Demarius Mack, Jensen Beach Elementary Principal Cristina Smith, 5th Grade Teacher Laura Ryan
Jensen Beach Elementary 5th Grade Teacher Amanda McConnell, Gabriel Borges ("Behind the Badge" Award Winner), Jensen Beach Elementary Principal Cristina Smith, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Jensen Beach Elementary Art Teacher Karen Haines
Hobe Sound Elementary Principal Trisha Elliott, Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Emmarie Haiduk ("Wagging Tail" Award Winner)
Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Luna Cerguiera (Tax Collectors Award Winner), Hobe Sound Elementary Art Teacher Jill Stuart
Martin County Tax Collector Ruth Pietruszewski, Alice Woodard, Hobe Sound Elementary Art Teacher Jill Stuart