Calendar Contest winners announced

The Betty Griffin Center has announced an art submission from Fruit Cove Middle School seventh-grader Kruthisri Muthyala and a poem submitted by Ponte Vedra High School 11th-grader Madelyn McDermott were selected as first-place winners in the 2026 Day Without Violence Art and Poetry Calendar Contest.

Second place winners were Genevieve Holladay, a sixth-grader at Fruit Cove Middle School, for art, and Fruit Cove Middle School sixth-grader Viktoriia Bugaeva, for poetry.

Genevieve Holladay won second place for art.

Contributed photo

“We received over 1,000 submissions from St. Johns County students this year, which was a fantastic response,” said Betty Griffin Center CEO Kelly Franklin. “And, again, we thank the St. Johns County School District for their participation in the calendar contest, which helps raise awareness of our work to serve survivors of domestic violence throughout the county.”

The top 12 student artworks and poems will be featured in the calendar, with printing sponsored by Raintree Graphics. Nearly 3,000 calendars will be distributed among county schools next year and calendars will be on sale at the two thrift shops operated by Betty Griffin Center. Contest winners will also have their artwork displayed at the Crisp Ellert Art Museum throughout October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Students receiving honorable mention include:

Art

• Emma Vanderburg, Palm Valley Academy — 8th grade

• Piper Pajic, Millcreek Academy — 4th grade

• Surrey Dotson, Freedom Crossing Academy — 8th grade

• Charlotte Green, Mill Creek  Academy — 5th grade

• Emma Dougherty, Pacetti Bay Middle School — 8th grade

• James Hill, Freedom Crossing — 7th grade

• Gabriella Moura, Freedom Crossing Academy — 8th grade

• Kayla Salamone, Freedom Crossing Academy — 7th grade

• Avahlea Rapp, Freedom Crossing Academy — 8th grade

• Leah Andarcio, Pine Island Academy — 7th grade

• Jessica Tatvets, Ponte Vedra High School — 11th grade

Poetry

• Johannah Cap, Fruit Cove Middle School — 7th grade

• Lauren Wild, Ponte Vedra High School — 12th grade

• Ryan Hancin, Ponte Vedra High School — 11th grade

• Sophia Stone, Hickory Creek Elementary School — 5th grade

• Lani Mai, Ponte Vedra High School — 11th grade

• Ridhi Maddi, Fruit Cove Middle School — 6th grade

• Mary Jenkins, Ponte Vedra High School — 12th grade

• Evie Knight, Fruit Cove Middle School — 6th grade

• Emma Soto, Hickory Creek Elementary — 5th grade

• Elle Margulis, Ponte Vedra High School — 11th grade

Sheri Gaitlings, a community member, Betty Griffin Center volunteer and local poet, judged the poetry this year, and art judges included St. Augustine Art Association members and local artists Martha Ferguson and Nikki Rakov.

This year’s contest also included a prize for the teachers who encouraged their students to participate and submitted the most entries.

The teachers with the most poetry submissions were Karen Feiser at Ponte Vedra High School and Debbie Doemel at Fruit Cove Middle School. The teachers with the most art submissions were Kathryn Frericks at Freedom Crossing and Jennifer Penaherrea at Millcreek Academy.

Art judges Martha Ferguson, left, and Nikki Rakov.

Contributed photo

The contest was open to all St. Johns County students in kindergarten through 12th grade, whether they attended public school, private school or were homeschooled. The number of entries vary each year, depending on the number of students who participate.

First-place winners receive $50, second-place winners receive $25 and all students receiving honorable mentions receive $10 each, along with a certificate and a copy of the calendar.

The students will also be recognized at the St. Johns County School Board Meeting in October.