We're excited to announce that Caleb of Somerville, Massachusetts, is the 2015 National Poster Contest Winner!
Over 1,500 voters from around the country helped select Caleb as the winner of the 5th annual National 5th Grade Poster Contest. His poster was selected out of a pool of nine state-winning posters that expressed what the students love about bicycling, using the hashtag #LongForTheRide.
Caleb will be flown to Washington D.C. for the 2016 National Bike Summit to be recognized for his #LongForTheRide inspired artwork, as well as joining other attendees in celebrating bicycling. During his time on Capitol Hill, Caleb will have the opportunity to rub elbows other attendees, meet with state legislators, and take in the sites of our nation's capital. His school, Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School in Somerville, MA, will receive bike parking for 20 bikes and The Hub, a web-based system that helps encourage active transportation.
"We're so happy that Caleb's poster is being recognized nationally," said Erin Reed, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Statewide Coordinator. "Using creativity to express a love for bicycling, Caleb is helping to inspire others in his community to live a more healthy and active lifestyle by safely bicycling to or from school and within his local neighborhood."
"Somerville has a strong biking community, and we encourage our students to take different modes of transportation to get to school and to be more active," said Barbara O'Brien, Argenziano School Principle. "Because of our strong partnership with the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program and CycleKids, every year we are able to teach our fifth graders how to bike safely. We are excited that this new bike rack will encourage even more students to choose to bike to school."
"My fifth graders truly enjoyed being part of The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School poster contest," said Caleb's 5th grade art teacher, Diana Tameri. "In Art Class we discussed the benefits of biking, the pros of safe routes for kids to bike on versus areas that are not conducive to biking along with the importance of wearing helmets. Other than the fact that biking is loads of fun, the students brainstormed about the health benefits of biking and how is biking beneficial to the environment."
As for Caleb, he cites inspiration from the show Cosmos for his poster's message "Start Biking More." In addition to his own love of biking, his mom bikes to and from her school in Bedford every day.
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year's 5th Grade Poster Contest happen. From state coordinators to art teachers to parents to enthusiastic 5th graders, we couldn't do this without you. Until next year – get out there and #LongForTheRide.