The Kalona Optimists are asking everyone that will be attending KD to stop by the Chamber of Commerce to help by voting on Mid-Prairie students artwork in photographs.

The Kalona Optimist Club started talking about a Photo Contest in November of last year and the Optimists considered several possibilities when deciding on the contest format. The High School Art teacher, Dain Jeppson, provided 12 pictures that demonstrated the students artistic, creative, and photography skills.

The pictures were printed and matted with a 1-1/2” boarder. They will be displayed at KD June 18, 2022, in front of the Kalona Chamber of Commerce. The photos will be voted on by visitors at KD, and the picture with the most votes will be awarded the “People’s Choice Award” plaque at the end of the day.

All participating students will receive a certificate. The Kalona Optimist Club hopes to make this an annual event and the goal is to get visibility and recognition for the students skills.

Nine students are involved with the exhibit, and three of the students are only freshman. The list of the students who will be revealing their art in photography are Dillon Poole, Nora Pennington, Grace Skelton, Behla Schmidt, Kenzington Miller, Niveah Gutierrez, Emma Hendricks, Gabrielle Robertson, and Josee Muller.

Roger Weber, Kalona Optimist member and chairman of the photo exhibit project, looks forward to seeing all the students who are displaying their impressive work.

“I’m hoping we can get the recognition for the talent that the high school students are displaying, through their use of art in photography,” Roger Weber of the Optimists said.