[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            YOUTH ART MONTH

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I recognize Youth 
Art Month and congratulate Samantha Kenaston of Mitchell, SD, on 
designing the winning State entry for the national student flag design 
program. Each March, the Council for Art Education sponsors National 
Youth Art Month. I appreciate the importance of arts education for 
children of all ages and am pleased with the work being done across 
South Dakota to promote and spotlight student artwork.
  This year marks the 50th anniversary of National Youth Art Month. 
This month, schools across our country will partner with local 
businesses and communities to support the arts and display students' 
art work. In South Dakota, the Dakota Discovery Museum in Mitchell, the 
Aberdeen Recreation and Culture Center, and Presentation College in 
Aberdeen are just a few of the partners that will be hosting galleries 
and shows to display the artwork of South Dakota's many talented 
student artists.
  This is the first year South Dakota has participated in the Youth Art 
Month flag design competition. Students from across our State designed 
flags to creatively represent the essence of our great State. I 
congratulate Samantha ``Sam'' Kenaston on designing the winning flag 
for the inaugural South Dakota Youth Art Month flag design competition. 
Sam is a seventh grade student at Mitchell Middle School. According to 
Sam's teacher, Ms. Renee Berg, Sam is a talented student and art is her 
favorite class. Sam also has a love for animals, which is often 
reflected in her artwork, and she aspires to become a veterinarian when 
she grows up.
  Sam's winning flag features a drawing of a pheasant, the State bird 
of South Dakota. Sam's flag will be displayed on March 9, 2011, at a 
ceremony in Washington, DC, to honor the winners of the State flag 
competition, and her flag will then be displayed in Seattle, WA, at the 
National Art Education Conference.
  As a member of the Senate Cultural Caucus, I recognize the importance 
of promoting arts and humanities in our communities and schools. I am 
pleased that Youth Art Month activities in South Dakota and across our 
country are highlighting the importance of art for our children's 
education. I am proud of Sam and the many talented student artists in 
our State.

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