BALTIMORE, 05-01-11--- Jeremy Joel Duarte, a 12^th grader at Northwestern High School, is the grand prize winner of the twelfth annual Preakness Portraits Youth Art Contest.

     Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was on hand Sunday morning in the Terrace Dining Room at Pimlico Race Course to congratulate Duarte and all the participants.

     “We have so many talented kids in the city,” Rawlings-Blake said. “The Maryland Jockey Club gives us a chance to merge a tradition with our talented kids and get them a chance to get into the action. The kids put their hearts and souls into this project. We see great art every year.”

     Students from eleven Baltimore area schools, grades K through 12, were invited to create artwork showing the significance of the Preakness to Maryland history, while capturing the spirit of Thoroughbred racing. The artwork had to include Preakness related images. Two schools were newly admitted into the contest this year, Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle School and Francis Scott Key Elementary School.

     As the winner of “The Jewel”, the best artwork for grades 5 through 12, Duarte receives box seating for four at the Preakness Stakes on May 21, framed artwork autographed by this year’s Preakness winners, a $250 gift certificate and a presentation ceremony at the winner’s luncheon this afternoon.

     “The Junior Jewel”, the best artwork for grades K through 4, went to 4th grader Valeria Ruiz, from Cross Country Elementary/Middle School.

     Judging was conducted on April 19 by Baltimore City neighborhood liaison Betsy Gardner and local artist Pat Hawthorne along with the Maryland Jockey Club’s Carrie Everly, Georganne Hale and Kristen Barth.

Grade winners:

Kindergarten      Kayiona M. Boone, Pimlico Elementary/Middle School

1^st grade           McKenzie Wilson, Fallstaff Elementary/Middle School

2^nd grade           Kennedi J. Patton, Cross Country Elementary/Middle School

3^rd grade           Kamron T. O’Banner, Cross Country Elementary/Middle School

4^th grade           Valeria Ruiz, Cross Country Elementary/Middle School (Junior Jewel)

5^th grade           Anabel Kearley, Mt. Washington Elementary School

6^th grade           Marissa Alford, Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School

7^th grade           Alyshia Zerwonka, Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School

8^th grade           Ghile C. Mason, Cross Country Elementary/Middle School

9^th grade           Edaija K. Headen, Western High School

10^th grade          Kyahnah K. Wesson, Western High School

11^th grade          Claudia V. Sagastume, Western High School

12^th grade          Jeremy J. Duarte, Northwestern High School (Jewel)

-MJC-