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HARRISBURG, PA (Aug. 28, 2024) — Four Pennsylvania teachers and six students won accolades in an art competition hosted by the Pennsylvania State Education Association to honor the tremendous contributions of the labor movement to Pennsylvania and our nation.

The Jennifer J. DuBois Fabric of Unionism Art Competition promotes awareness of the historical significance of the labor movement and its importance to the future.

“The arts are a necessary and vital part of the curriculum in our public schools,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin. “Students who study art are more likely to be high academic achievers and to have good school attendance. Pennsylvania is home to an array of talented educators and students, and PSEA is thrilled to showcase their artwork.

“By using their talent to tell the story of the labor movement, these artists are helping educate Pennsylvanians about the accomplishments of labor and its necessity for our future.”

The winners were announced in May. Grand prize winners in both student and member categories received $1,000; second prize winners, $500; and third prize winners, $250.

The Fabric of Unionism Art Competition started in 1997 and was renamed in 2000 in memory of Jennifer J. DuBois, a founding member of the project. DuBois was a teacher and local leader in PSEA’s Central Region and served as a PSEA UniServ representative in the Northeastern and Central regions.

PSEA typically hosts the contest every two years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first year the contest has been held since 2019.

Winners and images of their winning artwork are listed below and available at www.psea.org/FOU.

The student winners of the 2024 Fabric of Unionism Art Competition are:

Grand Prize: “Coming Through” by Rebecca Pennock (student of Dr. Lisa Draper), Liberty High School, Bethlehem Area School District

Second Place (Tie): “United In Age, Divided By Sacrifice” by Savannah J. Fair (student of Anthony DeRosa), Lawrence County Career & Technical Center

Second Place (Tie): “Shift In The Mines” by Sabrina Krause (student of Ann Gubitose), Wilkes-Barre Area High School, Wilkes-Barre Area School District

Honorable Mention (Tie): “Signs” by Diana Sutton and Lucy Buriein-Pitz (students of Argyro Paspalas), Wallenpaupack Area Middle School, Wallenpaupack Area School District

Honorable Mention (Tie): “Trapper and Breaker Boys” by Evie Yanaitis (student of Ann Gubitose), Wilkes-Barre Area High School, Wilkes-Barre Area School District

The PSEA member winners of the 2024 Fabric of Unionism Art Competition are:

Grand Prize: “Out of Many, ONE” by Janice Pearson, art teacher, Klein Elementary School, Harbor Creek Education Association

Second Place: “Family Ties” by Karen King, art teacher, Philipsburg Elementary School, Philipsburg-Osceola Area Education Association

Third Place: “All For One, And One For All” by Jennifer Tyrpak, art teacher, Quakertown Elementary School, Quakertown Community Education Association

Honorable Mention: “Local Pride” by Daniel Masse, art teacher, Strath Haven Middle School, Wallingford Swarthmore Education Association

Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, aspiring educators, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.