January 12, 2022

In November, Plano ISD students grades kindergarten through twelve entered their original artwork in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Diversity Art Contest. Finalists and semifinalists were awarded in four groups: K-second grade, third-fifth grades; sixth-eighth grades; and ninth-twelfth grades. Works will be on display at the Plano ISD Administration building from January 17th to February 25th. Winners in each group were awarded fifty dollars. Special thanks to the MLK Diversity Art Contest sponsor: Plano ISD Education Foundation.

Contest Winners:
Harinee Swaminathan, 2nd grade, Virtual Academy, Pre-K to 2nd grade winner


Hugo Yu, 3rd grade, Wyatt Elementary, 3rd to 5th grade winner


Kaitlyn Pak, 8th grade, Haggard Middle School, 6th to 8th grade winner


Ayah Shalabi, 12th grade, Plano East High School, 9th to 12th grade winner

Contest Semifinalists

Group 1: Kindergarten to second grade

• Jayden Davis, Haun Elementary, second grade; teacher: Tamra Alami
• Melany Manukyan, Haun Elementary, first grade; teacher: Tamra Alami
• Adhesh Naveen, Gulledge Elementary, second grade; teacher: Pam Horn
• Vaishvi Budima, Virtual Academy, Kindergarten; teacher: Stacey Riela
• Ruiqi Sun, Skaggs Elementary, second grade; teacher: Ilene Baumel 
• Isabella Zhao, Beverly Elementary, second grade; teacher: Kristina Morley

Group 2: Third to fifth grades

• Elisa Flores, Thomas Elementary, fifth grade; teacher: Jennifer Ortega
• David Gozlan, Haun Elementary, fifth grade; teacher: Tamra Alami
• Rua Hwang, Haun Elementary, fourth grade; teacher: Tamra Alami
• A'niya Jackson, Forman Elementary, fifth grade; teacher: Dawn Raugh
• Schuyler Ngu, Haun Elementary, fourth grade; teacher: Tamra Alami
• Nisha Shastry, Gulledge Elementary, third grade; teacher: Stacey Medler
• Elim Wong, Mathews Elementary, fifth grade; teacher: Santos Lozano
• Lillian Ye, Skaggs Elementary, fourth grade; teacher: Ilene Baumel

Group 3: Sixth to eighth grades

• Alan Dajui Otero, Haggard Middle School, eighth grade; teacher: Alexis Tennessee
• Vy G. Dang, Haggard Middle School, eighth grade; teacher: Alexis Tennessee
• Jesreel Chrisniah Garciano, Haggard Middle School, eighth grade; teacher: Alexis Tennessee
• Grace Kim, Robinson Middle School, seventh grade; teacher: Lisa Hunsaker
• Amelia Kuo, Rice Middle School, sixth grade; teacher: Amy Lin
• Sanjitha Seshu Marimganti, Schimelpfenig Middle School, 7th grade; teacher Matthew Grundler
• Anaya Srivatsan, Rice Middle School, eighth grade; teacher: Amy Lin

Group 4: Ninth to twelfth grades

• Hajar Berrachedi, McMillen High School, ninth grade; teacher: Laura Harrington
• Sahana Devaraj, Shepton High School, ninth grade; teacher: Melissa Pierce
• Eesha Gundam, Jasper High School, tenth grade; teacher: Adriane Anderson
• Kip Pittman, Plano Senior High School, twelfth grade; teacher: Lisa Jones
• Allison Tan, Williams High School, tenth grade; teacher: Chelsea Chang
• Samantha Tucker, Shepton High School, tenth grade; teacher: Melissa Pierce
• Janelia Agbor Agbor, Plano Senior High School, eleventh grade; teacher: Lisa Jones