08 May 2025 2025 Daffodil Daze Art Contest winners announced at ceremony

Posted at 8:44 PMh in News by

The 2025 Daffodil Daze Art Contest awards ceremony and reception was hosted by 501 LIFE Magazine staff at The Max on April 16 to honor the winners. Family members, friends and educators gathered in the beautifully restored event venue in Historic Downtown Conway. 

2025 WINNING ENTRIES

K-4th Grade Division 

1st – Maren Burgin, Wooster

2nd – Finn Leslie, Springhill

3rd – Alice Stephens, Guy-Perkins

Honorable mentions: 

Brenna Lawrence, Guy-Perkins

Valentina Rivas Castro, Ellen Smith

Amelia Jane Polacek, Ellen Smith

5-8th Grade Division 

1st – Alejandra Galvez, Courtway

2nd – Tran Nguyen, Carl Stuart

3rd – Hunter Christ, Ruth Doyle

Honorable mentions: 

Alayna Lybarger, Wooster

Keadyn Adams, Carl Stuart

Elianna Bukham, Carl Stuart

Sharon Chesshir, Courtway

9-12th Grade Division 

1st – Charity Douglas, Mayflower

2nd – Ty Icenhower, Mayflower

3rd – Maya Ortiz, Mayflower

Honorable mentions: 

Allie Cox, Mayflower

Gabe Brett, Mayflower

Gathering for a photo after the awards ceremony, the group is comprised of Daffodil Daze Art Contest student winners, art teachers, a Daffodil Daze Committee representative, a contest judge and a 501 LIFE representative. Photo by Mike Kemp.

The Daffodil Daze committee and 501 LIFE Magazine partnered with sponsors First Security Bank, Conway Regional Health System and Maly’s Entertainment Center to present the annual art contest. It was open to all Faulkner County kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Jeff Young, a professor of art education at the University of Central Arkansas, judged more than 250 entries along with the help of Amanda Chastain, a studio art major, and Megan Blair, an art education major. Dr. Young has overseen the judging of the juried competition since it began in 2016. 

The contest age divisions were elementary (kindergarten through fourth grade), middle school (fifth through eighth grade) and junior/high school (ninth through twelfth grade). Winners received First Security tote bags filled with bank swag items provided by Stefanie Van Holt, AVP and marketing officer. Winners also received insulated tumblers provided by Maegan Dyson, chief development officer of the Conway Regional Health Foundation. They also provided bottled water for reception guests. A new sponsor, Maly’s Entertainment, gave the winners play cards that allow one to three hours of play in their venue, thanks to Marketing Manager Jasmine Kelsey. 

Donna Evans spoke on behalf of the Daffodil Daze Committee and its work to beautify Faulkner County. The organization recently transplanted daffodil bulbs to the grounds of Conway Human Development Center with the help of men from Renewal Ranch. The daffodil bulbs were thinned and “rescued” from a property and planted on CHDC property along Museum Road so that passersby will enjoy the blooms for years to come. 

Paulette Higginbotham, a brand ambassador for 501 LIFE Magazine, served as the art contest chairperson and organizer. Stefanie Brazile, editor, emceed the event. “The contest draws the students’ attention to daffodils each spring and highlights the hard work of the Daffodil Daze Committee and their efforts to beautify this community,” Brazile said. The art contest will return next spring.