Herndon 1st Grader Wins 'Thank A Teacher' Art Contest

HERNDON, VA — A student at McNair Lower Elementary School in Herndon won a Thank A Teacher Art Contest sponsored by the Virginia Lottery.

Sarah Saravanan, a 1st grader at the Fairfax County Public School, was honored during a video conference where she learned that her artwork would be featured on thousands of thank you notes across the state during National Teacher Appreciation Week, which begins March 3.

“I’m really happy and surprised,” Sarah said upon learning that she had won the competition.

In her acceptance speech, Sarah said her artwork was inspired by thoughts during the pandemic of being back inside the classroom with her friends and playing with her teachers outside during recess.

One winner each was selected for the elementary, middle and high school levels from several hundred entries. The middle school winner was Karmare Brownlee, an 8th grader at Tabb Middle School in York County. The high school winner was Andrew Gibson, a senior at Gretna High School in Pittsylvania County.

RELATED: Virginia Lottery Awards 3 'Thank A Teacher Art Contest' Winners

The Virginia Lottery partnered with The Supply Room and the Virginia PTA to celebrate the fourth annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest.

“In the past, we have physically been able to go to the school for a big assembly to surprise the winners,” Jennifer Mullen, director of Public Affairs and Community Relations at the Virginia Lottery, said Monday in a statement. “These last two years, we have found new ways to still make this announcement just as special for students who are learning in different environments.”

The Virginia Lottery created a video of the awards presentation honoring Sarah and the other two winners.