Voters casting ballots across Bernalillo County in the upcoming general election will receive a special piece of local youth art upon completing their civic duty. Twelve talented students from Albuquerque Public Schools have had their original visual designs selected to be printed as the official "I Voted" stickers distributed throughout the community this November.
The creative competition centered around the inspiring theme "Voting is Your Superpower." This motivating concept prompted young people across every grade level to translate civic responsibility into dynamic artistic expression, generating roughly 500 separate design submissions from kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms district-wide.
The collaborative initiative between election officials and the local school system highlights a flourishing community tradition. According to Michelle Sanchez-St. Andre, the director of visual arts for Albuquerque Public Schools, this fall marks the third consecutive year that public school students have taken the lead in illustrating the commemorative stickers for local voters.
The twelve student creators, whose submissions spanned grades two through eleven at the time their artwork was completed, earned high-profile civic recognition this week. Members of the Bernalillo County Commission formally celebrated the winning student artists during their scheduled Wednesday meeting, applauding their visual contributions to the upcoming general election.
Sanchez-St. Andre emphasized the breadth of talent and imagination showcased across this year's pool of applicants, pointing to the remarkable diversity of perspectives across the K-12 spectrum. She explained that the selection process sought to spotlight artwork that embraced the designated superhero motif while also selecting pieces that captured the distinct, scenic spirit of New Mexico.
"I think it's a great representation of the K-12 students," Sanchez-St. Andre remarked regarding the final collection of winners. She noted that organizers strived to include a thoughtful mix of submissions directly tied to the superpower theme alongside illustrations that served as authentic, beautiful expressions of the state's cultural identity.
The resulting sticker designs bring together classic Southwestern imagery and imaginative interpretations of community power. Voters collecting their stickers at voting sites will see vibrant illustrations featuring hot air balloons drifting through the sky, native desert cactuses, swift state roadrunners, and traditional New Mexican chile peppers paired alongside heroic concepts.
Among the young artists featured in the upcoming election is Maya Flores Leggett, an 11-year-old student who originally drafted her piece as a fifth-grader at Sandia Base Elementary School. Her winning illustration depicts a young girl sporting a Zia symbol T-shirt while proudly wearing a superhero cape, a personal vision directly grounded in her own family life.
Flores Leggett, who has since advanced to the sixth grade at the Albuquerque School of Excellence, explained that the brown-haired girl in her drawing was directly inspired by herself and her sister, who both share the same hair color. Reflecting on the countywide honor, the young artist shared that having her personal design chosen to be handed out to voters felt truly amazing.
The elementary school cohort featured several other standout young creators who brought unique perspectives to the ballot box. Second-grader Zoey Harris from John Baker Elementary School earned distinction as the youngest winner in the entire competition, joined by Oñate Elementary School fourth-grader Bryce Tumpane and Coronado Elementary School fifth-grader Elias Silva.
The middle school grades were also well-represented among the twelve selected finalists, contributing a wide array of artistic techniques to the roster. Tony Hillerman Middle School sixth-grader Catalina Jaramillo and Eisenhower Middle School seventh-grader Sarah Salazar earned top honors, alongside Roosevelt Middle School eighth-graders Gwendalyn-Grace Schuh and Kylee Randolph.
In the high school ranks, several students turned to modern, nontraditional artistic methods to bring their concepts to life. Micah Solomon, who submitted his piece during his junior year and is now a 17-year-old senior at Volcano Vista High School, utilized computer illustration software to render a striking composition of superheroes posed against the recognizable Albuquerque skyline.
Describing his creative process, Solomon noted that grounding the superhero concept in his hometown was central to his artistic vision. "I wanted to include Albuquerque in it," he explained regarding his deliberate decision to incorporate the local urban landscape into his winning digital illustration.
Volcano Vista High School proved to be a major artistic presence in the contest, securing three of the twelve winning spots. Alongside Solomon, eleventh-graders Lianna Tran and Joni Estonactoc were recognized for their creative entries, while Sandia High School eleventh-grader Rose Griesmeyer rounded out the talented group of high schoolers whose designs will soon be worn by voters across Bernalillo County.
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