Congratulations to Crystal Thorns, a senior at Lincoln-Way North High School in Frankfort, who won the grand prize in the 2014 Illinois Tollway map cover art contest on Nov 21.
As the grand prize winner, she’ll receive $400 in gift certificates from Blick Art Materials and $200 in gift certificates from US Equities, which she’ll be able to use at oases on the Illinois Tollway system. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of the official 2014 tollway map.
Her artwork serves “as a constant reminder to drivers about the need to drive safely in work zones,” tollway authority executive director Kristi Lafleur said in a press release.
For the contest, the authority received 65 entries from students at 16 different Illinois high schools. Vlad Malinovic and Austin Rice, both from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, were the first and second runners-up, and Nathan Eisenhut from Downers Grove North High School was the third runner-up.
To select the winner, the field was narrowed down to 10 semifinalists and then submitted for public voting. Almost 22,000 votes were received, and that narrowed it down to the four finalists. A panel of judges put those four in order, and Ms Thorn’s piece came out in first place.
