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Arts Commission News

Nicholson Elementary Students Present Great Seal to Governor Haley Barbour

DATE:          April 1, 2009 

CONTACT:    Susan Dobbs, MAC Public Relations Director

601/359-6031, sdobbs@arts.state.ms.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

JACKSON - Students from Nicholson Elementary School in Picayune, Mississippi traveled to Jackson on March 24, 2009 to present Governor Haley Barbour with a special gift - the Great Seal of Mississippi!          

Last summer, teachers attending the Mississippi Arts Commission's Whole Schools Initiative's Summer Institute, were presented with 10 poster-size blank copies of the Great Seal of Mississippi and were asked to have their students research the seal and either embellish it into a collage, bas relief or completely redesign it following their own vision for this symbol of the state.  There were no restrictions on what materials could or could not be used, but students were encouraged not to just color the image.  Some approached the contest as a class project, some with individual students.         

The winning entry was submitted by forth graders from Nicholson Elementary School.  Their teacher, Bobbi Barrows, created an arts-integrated history lesson and the students used only Mississippi-based products to adorn their entry.   

The students were invited to present their entry to Governor Barbour at the Mississippi Arts Commission's Day at the Capitol festivities.        

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is a state agency, funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, Donna & Jim Barksdale, The Phil Hardin Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources.  MAC is the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.  

 

Pictured from left:  Norris Chaisson, Richard Carver, Governor Haley Barbour, Alec Eason, Zachariah Bond and Zoey Trobaugh

 

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