Avon Lake Eight-Year-Old Wins National Student Art Contest

Redwood Elementary School student Emilia Sansotta, from the Young Rembrandts afterschool program, is one of two winners of Torani’s national Art for Kids label design contest.

This fall, Torani Raspberry syrup will sport a new, limited-edition art label designed by Sansotta. The 8-year-old’s artwork was selected from hundreds of entries submitted by afterschool students around the country. Her work was celebrated at a pizza and Italian soda party sponsored by Torani at the Redwood Elementary School on Sept. 25. 

“It has been a joy to work with not only Emilia, but her younger sister Tara as well, since they were both in preschool,” Diane R. Wyant, Young Rembrandts Assistant Program Director and Master Teacher said. “When Emilia moved up to the Elementary Afterschool Program after taking Young Rembrandts for two years at her preschool, it was impressive to see her draw at a more refined level than our typical kindergarten student. She has always been very eager to help in class and she takes great pride in her finished work. I am very proud of her for this accomplishment.”

This is the ninth year that Torani has sponsored the Art for Kids contest in support of afterschool. The other winner this year is from a New Mexico afterschool program; 11-year-old Lizzy Begay from the Farmington Public Library afterschool program designed the label for Torani Sugar Free French Vanilla syrup.

“Each year we are even more impressed by the amazing art youth in afterschool programs create,” said Lisa Lucheta, Torani principal and family-owner. “Torani has a long history of bringing splashes of color and creativity into people’s everyday lives. We are thrilled that our partnership with the Afterschool Alliance and the Art for Kids contest allows us to brighten many more lives, and helps young people throughout the country participate in exciting, colorful experiences after the school day ends.”

Torani is donating 5 percent of all limited-edition Art for Kids Raspberry and Sugar Free French Vanilla flavor syrup sales from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013, to the Afterschool Alliance.