Three PCS schools compete in the Buccaneers ARRRRT contest

October 18, 2023

Students from Hollins High School, Pinellas Park Middle School and Maximo Elementary School were chosen to participate in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chalk Arrrrt contest in celebration of the Bucs’ throwback game against the Detroit Lions Sunday, Oct. 15.

More than a dozen Hillsborough and Pinellas County schools registered for the program and five schools were chosen to advance to the onsite competition, held from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 in the parking lot of Fifth Third Bank on Columbus Drive near the stadium in Tampa.

“We’re all friends and we’re all good at art and we have the best art teachers ever, so being able to come together and do something as a team is really fun,” said Hollins High School student Rayanna Hafez.

Although the schools did not take home the top prize, art students, teachers and principals from all three enjoyed participating in the creamsicle-inspired chalk art mural competition.

“We’re so excited to be here,” said Heather Shell, art teacher at Hollins High, who said that her students found out Monday they were selected and immediately began sketching their design on paper the size of a parking spot. “People care about art. It’s important. It’s fun. You don’t have to be the best at it. Anybody and everybody can do it.”

Captain Fear, the Bucs mascot, was on hand to assist with the judging. The students had about two hours to complete their mural. Judging was based on three components: creativity, incorporation of the Bucs retro creamsicle logo and the incorporation of the Fifth Third bank logo. Participants were provided traditional chalk sticks as well as spray chalk.

“This is a unique type of competition,” said Jonathan Ogle, PreK-12 Visual Arts Specialist for Pinellas County Schools. “It’s exciting because you’re trying to produce a piece that will win in a set amount of time.”