AP Art students from Tricia Avant and Fran Nichols’ classes are participating in a contest sponsored by Adidas, designing artwork on sack packs regarding the theme, “What are you thankful for?”

This contest seeks to reach out to urban youth and give high school teenagers an opportunity to express themselves. Contest organizers chose a broad topic to allow the students the chance to be creative and original.

“It’s a good opportunity for students to participate in contests and be awarded for them,” said Avant. “I think it’s great that they have the chance to create a piece and have it mass produced in the community.”

“They might get it processed all over the region circulating popular culture,” she added.

Elisa Schwartz, Public Relations director of an Adidas licensee company, Agron, visited Nichols’ class on Tuesday to donate sack packs and discuss the contest with Nichols and Avant’s first period students.

“We want to give urban kids that normally wouldn’t have an opportunity like this a chance to show who they are,” said Schwartz.

“We want to reach out to those that are not as privileged and get to them because a lot of them are very talented.”

The students have until the end of October to complete their designs. Judges from the Agron company will inspect all entries, and the four best pieces will be displayed at an Adidas store located on the Third Street Promenade.

Shoppers at the Adidas store will vote on the top four finalists and place their votes in the ballot boxes located near the artwork.

Whoever receives the most votes will get $500, and all others chosen for display will get $100.

“It’s going to be hard,” said Rodolfo Sernas, junior. “I think it’s pretty cool that they’re doing this. I draw almost everyday because it’s fun and if I win I’ll save the money up for college.”

Some students plan to base their work on how thankful they are for the support of their friends. Students may use anything from stencils, spray paint, or photo emulsions to design their art.

Adidas and Agron hope that in the future they can spread this contest to different high schools nationwide.

The companies may use the winning pieces for future accessories as they please.