Victoria Lee at Discovery Middle School shows two of her award-winning pieces of art. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Civic and historical organizations have awarded several honors recently to aspiring artists at Discovery Middle School, particularly to one top-ranking student, Victoria Lee.

Lee was first-place winner for Black History Artist of the Year Award, sponsored by Rosie’s International. Discovery students Sherry Lee and Ambra Cave earned second and third places, respectively. Luke Allison received an honorable mention.

Winning students are selected for their artwork presented throughout the year. Their art teacher, Raquel Spiegel, received the Black History Teacher Artist of Year Award.

Spiegel and her students will be honored at 14th Annual Black History Enrichment and Enlightenment Festival at Trinity United Methodist Church on Feb. 13. Col. R.J. Lewis, president of Tuskegee Airmen, will present awards to the students.

“It’s through art that we may communicate and understand diverse cultures in a global society,” sponsor Rosie Douglas said. “‘Keeping Art Alive,’ is one of our community outreach programs, which motivates students to be creative and active learners.”

“We strive to promote diversity and inclusion within the community and one way we achieve this goal is through Ethnic Observance Programs,” Douglas said.

For Daughters of the American Revolution, Huntsville Chapter, students used research and visual arts to expand their interest in U.S. history. The Junior American Citizens (JAC) Committee coordinated the contest. Honors for stamp design went to seventh-grader Ashlyn Neal and eighth-graders Sherry Lee and Victoria Lee.

In poetry for JAC, seventh-grader Julianna Taylor and eighth-grader Abigail Christopher were recognized.

“Another win for Victoria Lee,” Spiegel said. “Victoria’s beautiful artwork placed first in the first annual North Alabama Community of Character Summit, sponsored by the Better Business Bureau.” The theme required expression of character qualities, like integrity, compassion and respect.

For the 2016 State Superintendent’s Visual Arts Exhibit, Victoria Lee earned an honorable mention.

At Discovery’s ‘sister’ school, Bob Jones High School also was represented with Samuel C. Shin receiving the coveted “Best of Show” award. Shin’s teacher at Bob Jones is Robin Lakso.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice will present awards to Lee and Shin at a luncheon in Montgomery on Feb. 11.