3rd-grader wins statewide art contest
BY LELAND ACKER

Rusk third grader Katelyn Daughety's drawing proclaims "Trashing Texas beaches isn't cool." Her drawing was one of 48 winners in the "Treasures of the Texas Coast" art contest, sponsored by the General Land Commission.

Katelyn Daughety's message is simple, "Trashing Texas beaches isn't cool." That message, captured by her drawing submitted to the "Treasures of the Texas Coast" art contest, was one of 48 regional winners. Her winning drawing earned her tickets to Schlitterbahn (a water park in New Braunfels) and the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

The art contest is sponsored by the General Land Commission to bring awareness toward keeping the beaches clean. Kathy Daughety, her mother, said she was proud of Katelyn's accomplishment.

"I am very proud of all her hard work," she said. "She brought her drawing home to work on it."

Katelyn's success in the contest may have come naturally. She said she wants to be an artist when she gets older. Her favorite activities are making crafts, painting and coloring.

She also said she enjoys going to the beach, but didn't like litter on the beach.

"(The beach) is awesome," she said. "But I don't really want to walk close to the litter. It might have germs."

Katelyn said she is very excited to be receiving tickets to go to Schlitterbahn. Katelyn is a third grader at Rusk Elementary School.

Her drawing was one of 48 regional winners selected from more than 6,000 statewide entries.

Katelyn's third grade class, taught by Christina Robertson, read books and researched information about the Texas coast before creating the artwork.

Her artwork, as one of the 48 regional winners, will be on display at the state capitol on May 4 through May 11, in the Capitol Extension Central Gallery, Level II.