2024 Contest Winners

About the 2024 Contest

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Photo of Hayden Bowers and his submission for the LaunchSkills Art Contest
Hayden Bowers
1st Place South Dakota: Hayden Bowers- St. Mary Catholic School, Dell Rapids, SD
Photo of Jamaica Mich Madrona and her submission for the LaunchSkills Art Contest
Jamaica Mich Madrona
2nd Place South Dakota: Jamaica Mich Madrona- Lower Brule School, Lower Brule, SD
Photo of Cambri Schatz and her submission for the LaunchSkills Art Contest
Cambri Schatz
2nd Place North Dakota: Cambri Schatz- Jim Hill Middle School, Minot, ND
Photo of Ava Barnard and her submission for the LaunchSkills Art Contest
Ava Barnard
3rd Place: Ava Barnard- Jim Hill Middle School, Minot, ND

Hosted by Strengthening the Heartland, the Healthy Decision-Making Art Contest gives youth across the Dakota’s the opportunity to share their art.

For this year’s art contest, youth were asked to create art that represented what building stronger communities meant to them.

In response, we received a myriad of creative submissions including illustration, drawing, and painting. Submissions were judged based on criteria craftsmanship, originality and interpretation of the topic.


North Dakota

Art Contest entry by Matayia Thompson

1st: Matayia Thompson

Barnes County North Public School, Wimbledon, ND


Art Contest entry by Cambri Shatz

2nd: Cambri Schatz

Jim Hill Middle School, Minot, ND


Art Contest entry by Ava Barnard

3rd: Ava Barnard

Jim Hill Middle School, Minot, ND


South Dakota

Art contest entry by Hayden Bowders

1st: Hayden Bowers

St. Mary Catholic School, Dell Rapids, SD


Art Contest Entry by Jamaica Mich Madrona

2nd: Jamaica Mich Madrona

Lower Brule School, Lower Brule, SD


Art Contest entry by Taryn Kraft

3rd: Taryn Kraft

Britton-Hecla School District, Britton, SD