NCDOT announces winners of 2021 Aviation Art Contest

Raleigh, NC – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation announced today the winners of this year’s Aviation Art Contest, an annual competition among students across North Carolina.

1st prize aviation artwork by Amy Lee of Cary

NCDOT received 764 entries in this year’s contest, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. After weeks of judging and voting, the winners were announced in the following three age groups: 

Junior (born 2011-2014):

  • 1st: Michelle Selin Park of Fayetteville
  • 2nd: Kyndall Anthony of Kannapolis
  • 3rd: Arnav Choudepally of Cary

Intermediate (born 2007-2010):

  • 1st: Ava Lanzy of Indian Trail
  • 2nd: Anvi Choudepally of Cary
  • 3rd: Anish Upadhyaya of Cary

Senior (born 2003-2006):

  • 1st: Amy Lee of Cary
  • 2nd: Isabel Chang of Cary
  • 3rd: Hailey Combs of Hampstead

As in 2020, winners will have their artwork displayed by the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. The winning art can also be viewed on the NCDOT Flickr site.

The winners were selected after weeks of voting by local art teachers, aviation experts and NCDOT employees. The artwork was judged on creativity, adherence to this year’s theme of “A Friendlier World with Air Sports,” and technical quality. In addition to cash prizes for the winners and their schools, the top three students in each age division will have their artwork submitted to the National Aviation Art Contest. 

Entries this year came from 124 hometowns and 137 schools across the state. A total of 8,362 students have participated in the N.C. Aviation Art Contest since 2016.