
From USD 428 Great Bend...
USD 428 is proud to celebrate the artistic achievements of its students as they participate in the statewide Youth Art Month Exhibit, hosted by the Kansas Art Education Association (KAEA). This prestigious exhibition, held at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, will showcase student artwork from February 25 to March 29, 2025.
KAEA invited art educators from across Kansas to select one outstanding piece from each school they represent. Miraya Starnes and Shannon Wedel, USD 428 elementary art teachers, were honored to select one piece of artwork from the five schools they serve, highlighting not only artistic talent but also the dedication and creativity of their young artists.
“This exhibit is a wonderful opportunity for our students to have their work displayed on a statewide platform,” said Wedel. “It’s inspiring to see their unique styles and creativity come to life, and we couldn’t be prouder of them.”

This marks USD 428’s second year participating in the exhibit. Starnes and Wedel personally transported the selected pieces to Topeka, where they assisted in curating and displaying the collection. Each artwork is accompanied by a title and an artist statement, offering visitors insight into the inspiration and technique behind each piece.
Families and community members are invited to attend a celebration of the exhibit on March 29 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, where hands-on activities will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by an award recognition ceremony from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
USD 428 is thrilled to see its students' artistic voices represented in this statewide event and looks forward to celebrating their achievements. For more information, please contact the USD 428 District Education Center at 620-793-1500.

Elementary Submissions:
· Lincoln Elementary - Harper Kelly, 3rd-grade & Makenzy Herrman, 6th-grade
· Jefferson Elementary - Anai Andrade, 6th-grade & Hattie Baxter, 6th-grade
· Park Elementary - Alex Montoya-Reyes, 4th-grade & Sofia Moreno 3rd-grade
· Eisenhower Elementary - Emmy Schridde, 5th-grade & Morgan McKiearnan, 6th-grade
· Riley Elementary - Yeyla Huitron, 5th-grade & Alexa Sanchez 6th-grade





