Elmhurst Heritage Foundation celebrates the 2017 Ruth Strand Poster Contest winners

History comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and that fact was fully evident in the many different entries received during the annual Ruth Strand Poster Contest.

Sponsored by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, the 2017 Ruth Strand Poster Contest asked second grade students to submit an original drawing depicting a scene from Elmhurst history. The contest honors Ruth Strand, the long-time director of the Elmhurst Public Library and a founding member of what is now the Elmhurst History Museum. The mission of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation is to stimulate broad-based support for local history, the Elmhurst History Museum, and the Churchville Schoolhouse through advocacy, education, and fundraising.

Students from ten Elmhurst schools participated in the contest, and members of the community voted to select the winners. The first place poster, created by Wileinne Velano of Lincoln Elementary School, was a vivid drawing featuring a horse and stand of elm trees that considered how the city of Elmhurst got its name.

Following are the top winners of the 2017 Ruth Strand Poster Contest:

1^st Place – Wileinne Velano, Lincoln School

2^nd Place – Lucy Killik, Edison School (tie)

2^nd Place – Ignas Zemaitaitis, Jackson School (tie)

3^rd Place – Sara Steinecker, Emerson School

Honorable Mentions: Ellie Close, Edison; Zeshawn Mughal, Emerson; Rachel Reiff, Field; Valeria Delgado, Fischer; Maeve Wicklow, Hawthorne; Elizabeth Buranakanchana, Jackson; Grant Arquilla, Jefferson; Beau Walker, Lincoln; Lilly McDonough, Visitation; Lily Ohm, Immanuel Lutheran

The poster contest winners were honored on May 24^th at a reception at the Elmhurst History Museum. Students received gift bags from the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, and schools with ten or more participants received a donation to support their school library. The posters will be on display at the Elmhurst History Museum throughout the summer, and winning entries may be viewed at City Hall after June 5. In addition, the winners will march alongside the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation in the Elmhurst Memorial Day parade and the group will be recognized at the Elmhurst City Council meeting on June 5.

The Elmhurst Heritage Foundation congratulates the 2017 Ruth Strand Poster Contest winners and their families, and thanks every participant for sharing their beautiful posters on Elmhurst history with the community.