
Congratulations to the 2023 Grand Prize Winner:
Elisabet Sigurdsson
Ridgefield High School
Teacher: Daniela Silvestri
The Artwork Contest is a wonderful way to promote the study of world languages and encourage students to share their enthusiasm with peers throughout Connecticut. This annual contest is open to students K-12 and includes a wide variety of mediums to encourage student creativity and participation. CT COLT members submit selected student artwork that incorporates the chosen yearly theme:
Discovering the Joy of World Languages
To assist teachers with promoting the contest, the following materials are available for use:
Artwork Contest Summary and Objectives, which outlines the "why" behind the contest, and how teachers can use it in their curriculum;
A printable Artwork Contest Information packet; and
Sample Google Slides intended for use in the classroom, which could help to simplify the contest parameters and instructions when introducing the contest to students and parents.
Registration for this event will be open from January 3 to March 10, 2023. Deadline for artwork submissions: March 10, 2023.
To register and submit student work digitally, please click here. Please note registration is only online, and you will submit or share student artwork files or photos as part of the online registration.
THERE IS NO LONGER A SCHOOL LIMIT FOR SUBMISSIONS. The limit is 15 submissions per teacher, 5 max per artistic category. Multiple teachers from the same school will now be allowed to submit entries for the contest, and teachers who teach at multiple schools may submit 15 entries for each school at which they teach.
- The artwork can be created in any medium under the 4 categories:
STILL DIGITAL | DYNAMIC DIGITAL | 3D | POSTER |
Graphic Design
Digital Drawing Photography Other |
Video (theme must be articulated)
Presentation (Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc) Other |
Sculpture
Mixed Media Clay Other Please compile photos of the submission into a document for upload! |
Crayons
Colored Pencils Charcoal Pencil Markers Paint Collage Pens Cray-Pas Other |
What qualifies as a Still Digital submission? | What qualifies as a Dynamic Digital submission? | What qualifies as a 3D submission? | What qualifies as a Poster submission? |
Click here to see last year’s winners for even more clarity of expectations! |
Levels are:
- Elementary K-2
- Elementary 3-5
- Middle /Jr. High School
- High School
In order to be considered eligible for judging, all of the following criteria must be met:
- Artwork must be the original work of one student only; work done in groups will be disqualified.
- Art must incorporate the exact wording of the theme, either in writing or speaking (for videos), though other words (in any language) are now allowed on artwork submissions. Any artwork not containing the theme will be disqualified.
- Copyrighted figures and music are NOT permitted in the artwork. (Please see here to determine if music used is copyrighted or not.) The artwork will be judged for its graphic merit, not artistic skill.
- Registration form must be completed in its entirety.
- School Entry Fee: $10 for CT COLT member teachers and/or member heritage language schools (all artwork submitted must be submitted by CT COLT members).
- Student Entry Form (with signatures) must be obtained by teacher, and teachers are expected to retain these forms for their records.
- Art must be uploaded to registration form no later than March 10, 2023.
Rubrics for each category:
Student Entry Form (with signatures) must be obtained by teacher, and teachers are expected to retain these forms for their records. (If you would prefer a Word document instead, click here.)
In addition to winning a prize for best in their category, the winning pieces of art will be displayed on the CT COLT website. Furthermore, the winning artwork will be featured in the CT COLT Newsletter and the 2022 CT COLT Calendar, which is typically distributed at our Annual Conference. For information on past contests and winners, please check out the bottom of this web page.
Prizes: All participants will receive a CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION
- K-2 (Elementary) $50: one winner per artistic category
- 3-5 (Elementary) $50: one winner per artistic category
- 6-8 (Middle School) $50: one winner per artistic category
- 9-12 (High School) $50: one winner per artistic category
- Grand Prize $100: one winner across all artistic categories
School Entry Fee: $10 for CT COLT members (all posters submitted must be submitted by CT COLT members). If you are not yet a member, you can join through the registration process or by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- If I volunteer to judge the contest, can my students still participate? Yes, please contact tubbsm@ctcolt.org and nietupskib@ctcolt.org to find out how this works.
- Does the theme have to be articulated on 3D items such as sculptures? No, you may place a card next to the 3D artwork before you take a picture and upload.
- I work at multiple schools. May I submit 15 entries per school at which I work? Yes!
- In my school, we only have 10 entries total across 3 teachers. May be all submit under 1 teacher? Yes.
- Do I have to be a COLT member to submit? Yes.
- Can my students use multiple languages on the artwork? Yes, but the theme should be articulated in English.
- What qualifies as a Still Digital submission?
- 2-dimensional
- Single still image
- Created using software or electronic hardware (i.e. camera)
- What qualifies as a Dynamic Digital submission?
- Multiple connected images
- Movement of some kind (either in the video or between the slides)
- Created using software or electronic hardware (i.e. videocamera)
- What qualifies as a 3D submission?
- 3D, or three dimensional, refers to the three spatial dimensions of width, height and depth. As such, all 3D entries should be solid figures, objects, or shapes that have three dimensions—length, width, and height.
- What qualifies as a Poster submission
- 2-dimensional
- Single still image
- Created without using software or electronic hardware
- May I use music and/or dance in my Dynamic Digital submissions? Yes, of course, but please cite all tracks used in APA format at the end of the submission. Use of copyrighted music is prohibited.
Direct all questions about the contest to: Melissa Tubbs tubbsm@ctcolt.org
Questions about other student contests? Contact Bonnie Nietupski nietupskib@ctcolt.org
Previous Contests
Chair: Melissa Tubbs
Theme: "Connections Across Languages Cultures and Communities"
To view winners, click here!
Chair: Melissa Tubbs
Theme: "Languages Celebrate our Differences"
To view winners, click here!
Link above not working? Poster Contest 2021 - Winners!
Theme: "Continuing the Journey to Proficiency"
Chairperson: Judith Ojeda
To view the winning posters and information about the winners, please click HERE.
Pictures of winning posters, 2019
Theme: The Journey to Language Proficiency
Chairperson: Karen Murano (kmurano@region16ct.org)
Deadline: April 1, 2019
Pictures of winning posters, 2018
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Nicholas Donohew
Greenwich High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Aarna Doshi
Western CT AIS Magnet School
Teacher: Maria Sorrentino
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
Annabel English
Convent of the Sacred Heart - Greenwich
Sr. Julieta Agrelo
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Robin Murphy
Convent of the Sacred Heart - Greenwich
Teacher: Shuefung Wang
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Zoe Seguin
Greenwich High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
Theme: Being Multilingual: Making My Dreams Come True
Chairperson: Karen Murano (kmurano@hotmail.com)
Pictures of winning posters, 2017
Theme: World Languages: A CAN DO Mindset
Chairperson: Lisa Urso (lurso@reg4.k12.ct.us)
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Isabelle Jankovich
Greenwich High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Molly Sullivan
Noah Wallace School (Farmington)
Teacher: Kristen Tagg
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
No Winner
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Isabella Rosa
Henry James Memorial School
Teacher: Amy Klebart
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Lizbeth Bermeo
Greenwich High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
Pictures of winning posters, 2016
Theme: Building Proficiency in Today's Digital Natives
Chairperson: Lisa Urso
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Christopher Thomas
Greenwich High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Zuzana Barnovsky
Western CT Academy of International Studies Magnet School
Teacher: Maria Sorrentino
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
Bonnie Bailie
Western CT Academy of International Studies Magnet School
Teacher: Maria Sorrentino
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Isabella Rosa
Henry James Memorial School
Teacher: Lisa Martocchio
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Augusta Steen
Greenwich High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
2015 Contest
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Christopher Thomas
Greenwich High School (Grade 10)
Teacher: Carole Constandaki
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Annamarie Mueller
CREC International Magnet School (Grade 2)
Teacher: Kristen Tagg
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
Aditi Malpure
CREC International Magnet School (Grade 4)
Teacher: Kristen Tagg
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Emily Treadwell
Bolton Center School (Grade 8)
Teacher: Cory Percy
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Lucia Sintoni
Southington High School (Grade 12)
Teacher: Patrick Nobu
Pictures of winning posters, 2015
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Christopher Thomas
Greenwich High School (Grade 10)
Teacher: Carole Constandaki
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Annamarie Mueller
CREC International Magnet School (Grade 2)
Teacher: Kristen Tagg
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
Aditi Malpure
CREC International Magnet School (Grade 4)
Teacher: Kristen Tagg
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Emily Treadwell
Bolton Center School (Grade 8)
Teacher: Cory Percy
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Lucia Sintoni
Southington High School (Grade 12)
Teacher: Patrick Nobu
Pictures of winning posters, 2014
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Rebecca LoPresti
Southington High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Isabella Giammarino
CREC International Magnet School
Teacher: Kristen Vrabie
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
Faith Mitchell
CREC International Magnet School
Teacher: Kristen Vrabie
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Leah Pendl-Robinson
Francis Walsh Intermediate School
Teacher: Amanda Smith
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Amanda Scheffler
Southington High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Fancher
Pictures of winning posters, 2013
2013 Theme: World Languages: Are You Connected?
Chairperson: Robin Bertrand
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
William Zavodjancik, Jr.
Naugatuck High School, Grade 11
Teacher: Anne Marie Chuckrey
GRADES K-2 DIVISION WINNER
Cecilia O'Malley
Washington Primary School, Grade 2
Teacher: Virginia Staugaitis
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION WINNER
Hailey Brunner
Francis Walsh Intermediate School (Branford), Grade 5
Teacher: Susan Rood
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Bailey Holloway
Henry James Memorial School (Simsbury), Grade 8
Teacher: Amy Watts
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Jessica Harkness
Joseph A. Foran High School (Milford), Grade 11
Teacher: Charlene Convertino
Pictures of winning posters, 2012
Theme: World Languages: Gateway to the Global Marketplace
Chairperson: James Wildman
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Haotian Wang
Southington High School
Teacher: Ms. Elizabeth Fancher
LOWER ELEMENTARY WINNER
Harlequin Sullivan
Washington Primary School
Teacher: Mrs. Virginia Staugaitis
UPPER ELEMENTARY WINNER
Grace Salvador
West CT AIS Elementary Magnet School
Teacher: Ms. Maria Sorrentino
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNER
Danielle Flowers
Bolton Center School
Teacher: Mrs. Corey Percy
HIGH SCHOOL WINNER
Christina Trovato
Southington High School
Teacher: Ms. Renate Ringstad