News & Facts

Santa Ana, CA –– John Wayne Airport (JWA) has announced the winners for the 16th Annual JWA Student Art Contest.  The winning students were recognized at a ceremony in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on Sunday, December 11, 2005.  Sophia Tsau, a 4th grader from College Park Elementary School in Irvine, and Chris Chien, a 12th grader who studies at Ming’s Art Studio in Irvine, were awarded “Grand Prize” in their competing category.  The ceremony was co-sponsored by McDonald’s.

This year’s contest theme, “Air Sports and Nature in Harmony,” generated over 2,000 entries from public and private schools as well as public libraries throughout Orange County.  Fifty-four artworks were selected for exhibition and awards by a five member panel comprised of the Chairman of the Airport Arts Commission, a local Orange County artist, two representatives from the Irvine Museum and one representative of the Bowers Museum.   First, second and third place and Honorable Mention winners were chosen from each grade, Kindergarten through 12th.  Grand Prizes were awarded in Category I: Kindergarten through 6th Grade and Category II: 7th Grade through 12th.

“We are honored to take part in an event that generates thousands of entries each year from such talented young artists,” noted Alan L. Murphy, Airport Director.  “The Airport’s annual Student Art Contest continues to be very popular and offers a great opportunity for these student artists to be recognized in our community.”

John Wayne Airport is a self-supporting enterprise, owned and operated by the County of Orange.  The Airport served 9.6 million passengers in 2005.

List of winners