Media release | Hawaii State Department of Transportation

HONOLULU — The seven Hawaii winners of the 2011 International Aviation Art Contest were honored at a ceremony held today at the Honolulu International Airport. The annual contest is sponsored by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO).

The purpose of the contest is to motivate and encourage young people to become more familiar with and participate in aeronautics, engineering, and science. The FAI chooses a new theme each year, and this year’s theme was “50 Years of Human Space Flight.”

The entries are for three age categories: Group I, ages six to nine; Group II, ages 10 to 13; and Group III, ages 14 to 17. The top three state contest entries in each age group are forwarded for national judging, and the national first, second, and third place entries in each age group are sent to FAI Headquarters for international judging.

The Hawaii contest winners (the top three in each age group) receive a certificate and a U.S. Savings Bond ($200, $150, or $100). The national winners are awarded certificates, ribbons, and a framed reproduction of their artwork. International awardees receive certificates and gold, silver, or bronze medals.

This year, the Hawaii contest received approximately 40 entries from private and public schools. The artwork was judged in January, and the winning entries were sent to Washington, D.C. The national judging was completed in February.

Hawaii Winners:

Group I (Junior) Category (ages six to nine)

1st Place: Natalie Boucher, age eight, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Honokaa, Hawaii (picture top right)
2nd Place: Keilani Melton, age eight, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Honokaa, Hawaii
3rd Place: Meg Hoshino, age nine, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Honokaa, Hawaii

Group II (Intermediate) Category (ages 10 to 13)

1st Place: Lea Alsadoun, age 13, Honolulu Waldorf School, Honolulu, Hawaii
2nd Place: Jeffrey Hayashi, age 12, Kaimuki Middle School, Honolulu, Hawaii
3rd Place: Jon David Batulan, age 12, Keoneula Elementary School, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Group III (Senior) Category (ages 14 to 17) (only one entry by contest deadline)

1st Place: Jennifer Wong, age 16, Kapolei High School, Kapolei, Hawaii

The Group I (Junior) Category (ages six to nine) winners are, left to right, Keilani Melton (2nd Place), Natalie Boucher (1st Place), and Meg Hoshino (3rd Place). All three students attend Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Honokaa on the island of Hawaii.