"Milk and Rice" by Penelope Mathis, seventh grader at CMS

“World Peace,” that’s what we challenged local kids to draw in our 2023 Spruce Up The Sun cover contest, and we think CMS seventh grader Penelope Mathis really captured the theme in her piece “Rice and Milk.”

The kids of Carbondale and beyond really responded to this year’s theme of World Peace (La Paz Mundial). Let’s be honest, as trite as it may sound, we’re all ready for a little peace on Earth. What exactly that looks like depends on who you ask, but we’re definitely seeing some common themes with these submissions. Check out our grade-by-grade winners and honorable mentions, as well as inspiring entries not featured in print!

Best Kindergarden: Caleb Annabel, CRES
Best First Grade: Wyland Crocker, CRES
Best Second Grade: Wilco Lauckhart, CRES
Best Third Grade: Teagan Rice, CRES
Best Fourth Grade: Kade Mason, CRES
Best Fifth Grade: Ina Stuart, CMS
Best Use of Color: Maeve Norrdin, CCS
Moment of Zen: Abby Mines, CCS
Out of this World: Calvin Kuhn, CCS
Geography Whiz: Theo Lucks, CCS
Grooviest: Ruby DeWolfe, CRES
Corinna Avery Aeschliman, CRES
Nova Lauckhart, CRES
Riley Groves, CCS
Addi Williams, CCS
Arthur Perez, CCS
Ayden Duffy, CCS
Geo Chemerisov Smith, CCS
Henry McDonald, CCS
Iris Mines, CCS
Allison Bate, CCS
Bree Shetzer, CCS
Kaitlyn Brianna Chopra, CCS
Winter Furmansky, CRES
Shiloh, CRES