Senior Isabel Harris took on the task of crafting a digital banner to represent Bardstown City Schools at the Kentucky School Board Association’s Annual Conference scheduled for March 1-3, 2024, in Louisville. Annually, KSBA invites each school district to create a banner for exhibition at the association’s Annual Conference. These banners hold significant value at the event, serving as a poignant reminder to attendees of the district’s core focus – the students. Superintendents and school board members from throughout the state will have the opportunity to view these banners.
The theme assigned for the KSBA banner was “Keys to Success.” Drawing inspiration from the diverse imagery found in the beloved “I Spy” books of her childhood, Isabel embarked on her creative process.
At Bardstown High School, Isabel is actively involved in various extracurricular activities. She participates in the National Honor Society, Future Problem-Solving team, Y-Club, and serves as the Treasurer of the Student Council. Isabel is also engaged in Bardstown’s Drama Club, showcasing her acting skills in productions such as portraying the Ghost of Christmas Past in “A Christmas Carol” and soon taking on the role of Mrs. Potts in the school’s upcoming musical rendition of “Beauty and the Beast.”
Isabel describes herself as a sponge, absorbing influences from her surroundings into her work. While she is comfortable in digital art her heart is with more traditional mediums like oils and acrylics. She finds painting relaxing.
In 2022, Isabel’s digital painting titled “Thank You, Sweetheart” secured second place overall in the Congressional Art Competition for Kentucky’s Second Congressional District. This artwork, dedicated to her cherished cat, was displayed in Representative Brett Guthrie’s office for a year.
Isabel’s impact extends beyond her art. Ms. Angela Ford, an art teacher at Bardstown High School, praises Isabel for her positive impact on her peers throughout the school year. After attending the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) last summer, Isabel recognized many talented art students faced missed opportunities due to their reluctance to apply. To motivate her peers, Isabel shared her GSA journey and knowledge with Ms. Ford’s advanced art classes, inspiring fellow students to pursue the program by providing insights, answering queries, and assisting them with the application process.
Isabel’s initiative to motivate aspiring artists to pursue opportunities like GSA will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy of artistic excellence at BHS. Post-graduation, Isabel plans to enroll in college to pursue a degree in graphic design.
