2002 Aviation Art Contest Winners

With more than 400 high quality entries in the 2002 International Aviation Art Contest, the judges admitted it was not an easy task to pick the winners.

With the theme of “Silent Flight” most of the entries depicted balloon and sailplanes, but the impact of the events of Sept. 11 was evident in the patriotic motifs that colored many of the paintings submitted.

Ages 6 to 9

Second Place
Caroline Cheney (9) Point Road School, Little Silver

Third Place
Alexa Buonpastore (8) Our Lady of the Valley, Wayne

Honorable Mention
Lauren Mesagno (8) Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Booton
Ryan Johnstone (8) Easthampton Elementary School, Easthampton

Ages 10-13

Second Place
Ryan Czepiel (11), Antheil Elementary School, Ewing

Third Place
Jenna Cannon (13) Delran Middle School, Delran

Honorable Mention
Kyle Czepiel (11) Antheil Elementary School, Ewing
Susan Chiarello (13) Delran Middle School, Delran

Ages 14 to 17

First Place
Ruth Reynoso (16) Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne

Second Place
Paul DiChellis (16) Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne

Third Place
Stephanie Jimenez (17) Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne

Honorable Mention
Jennifer Vega (17) Wallkill Valley Regional High School, Hamburg
Jarret Naso (15) Verona High School, Verona

First place winners in the three categories will be sent to Washington D.C. for judging in the National Art Contest, with those winning entries going to Europe for the final judging by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.

Reprint from New Jersey Aviation News, February 2002.