Discovery art students stay busy helping homeless animals, winning contests

Discovery Art Club members Lexi Gilchrist, from left, Abigail Jackson, John Dipietro, Casey Kula and Misa Ito check out donations for Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF). (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Art students at Discovery Middle School not only have an inclination for design but also a belief in community outreach.

Before school dismissed for summer, Discovery Art Club members decided to pursue a community outreach project. After some deliberation, they resolved to help hometown animals that are homeless, Raquel Spiegel said.

Spiegel teaches art and sponsors the Art Club at Discovery.

Students collected pet food, blankets and toys for Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF). They made posters to advertise the collection drive and motivate their Discovery classmates to contribute. Art Club members set up collection boxes around campus for easy access to drop off donations.

Spiegel contacted MARF founder Miki Bennett to confirm that the students collected items that the animals actually need. “Miki welcomed any and all donations for the organization,” Spiegel said.

In other activities, Ange Long was the state winner with the Alabama Pharmacy Association’s contest. Long’s artwork now has been entered in the national competition. Zachary Fontaine and Heesun Yoon earned honorable mentions.

“The kids did a fantastic job. We had a tough decision this year,” Holly Shoemaker said. She works as communications director for the Alabama Pharmacy Association.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) sponsored another contest with competition for both stamp design and poetry. Discovery had three state winners.

Brian Fritz from Discovery won first place in stamp design. Heesun Yoon took first-place honors among eighth-graders for the poem submissions. Also excelling in poetry, Adam Bastien earned first place among students in seventh grade.