The Office of Indian Education of the U.S. Department of Education has announced the winners of the "Our Goal, Our Path, Our People" Student Art Competition. The theme of the contest is consistent with the theme of the National Conference on Indian Education called for by the President's Executive Order on Indian Education. The national conference highlighted the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students. The art competition also sought to emphasize to Native youths the importance of pursuing an education, as well as to document successes and the value of education in Native communities. The competition was open to American Indian and Alaska Native students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

A total of 138 entries were received for the competition. Entries were judged on originality, relationship of the artwork to the contest theme, creativity, composition and control of materials. Prizes for first, second and third places were awarded in five categories according to grade level. The winners of the Student Art Competition are:

Grades Kindergarten through 2
1st place winner: Joseph AimsBack (Blackfeet), first grade, K W Bergan Elementary School, Browning, Mont.
2nd place winner: Gabriell Lira (Choinumni), kindergarten, Osa Center for Indian Education, Fresno, Calif.
3rd place winner: Curtis Smith (Miami), kindergarten, Davenport Elementary School, Stroud, Okla.

Grades 3 through 5
1st place winner: Ray Charles (Muckleshoot), fifth grade, Chinook Elementary School, Auburn, Wash.
2nd place winner: Shaundrea Charles (Muckleshoot), fourth grade, Chinook Elementary School, Auburn, Wash.
3rd place winner: Isaac Anderson (Cherokee/Blackfoot/Mohawk), fifth grade, Colorado Virtual Academy Homeschool, Evergreen, Colo.

Grades 6 through 8
1st place winner: Danica Engstrom (Tlingit/Haida), seventh grade, O'Callaghan Middle School, Las Vegas, Nev.
2nd place winner: Alex Toledo (Navajo), eighth grade, Cuba Middle School, Cuba, N.M.
3rd place winner: Laurel Skye Cadotte (Hunkpapa), sixth grade, Monticello Middle School, Longview, Wash.

Grades 9 and 10
1st place winner: Stacy Madson (Navajo), 10th grade, Navajo Preparatory School, Farmington, N.M.
2nd place winner: Cody Hoskie (Navajo), 10th grade, Wingate High School, Wingate, N.M.
3rd place winner: Alphonso Keeswood (Navajo), ninth grade, Kirtland Central High School, Kirtland, N.M.

Grades 11 and 12 1st place winner: Heather Duggins (Choctaw), 12th grade, Woodward High School, Woodward, Okla. 2nd place winner: Shea Enos (Salt River Pima Maricopa), 11th grade, Salt River High School, Scottsdale, Ariz. 3rd place winner: Roderick Natani (Navajo), 12th grade, Westwood High School, Mesa, Ariz.

First, second, and third place winners in grades kindergarten through 10 each received an age-appropriate art kit and an award certification, while the student's school received a plaque and age-appropriate Native books. First, second, and third place winners in the 11th and 12th grades received $1,000, $500 and $250 scholarship awards, respectively, and an award certificate.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Indian Education is to support the efforts of local education agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, postsecondary institutions and other entities to meet the unique educational and culturally related needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students so that they can achieve to the same challenging state standards as all students. More information about the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education can be found at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ods/index.html.

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