During the months of March and April, the Chester County Intermediate Unit initiated a number of activities across the county to increase awareness and acceptance of all abilities.
The efforts culminated in the third annual shoe design contest.
Art teachers were invited to engage their students in developing a shoe design that best represents and articulates the awareness, acceptance, and celebration of all abilities. Each participating school reviewed submissions and selected one top design to be submitted to CCIU for placement in the 2018 online contest.
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Four submitted designs were featured on the CCIU website and promoted on social media. The community was encouraged to vote for their favorite design between April 2-6, with more than 1,000 votes entered.
Avon Grove Intermediate School student Ella Bartnik was selected as the winner of the 2018 shoe design contest.
“We received four outstanding submissions for our shoe design contest, each articulating disability awareness and each representing a very talented 6-12th-grade student in Chester County,” said Melissa Smith, the CCIU’s Assistant Director of Communications and Learning Solutions.
Bartnik’s winning design became a reality when the sneakers were painted by shoe design artist Laura Jane Craig. Bartnik, a sixth-grader, was recognized at a recent Avon Grove School District Board meeting and presented with a custom pair of shoes sporting her original design.
