In a recent meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature, two young artists were officially recognized for their winning designs in the county's inaugural sticker contests aimed at promoting civic engagement among youth.

The first recognition was awarded to Ahava Sapp, a second grader from Bell Sherman Elementary School, for her design in the 2024 Future Voter Sticker Contest. Sapp's winning entry, which features the phrase \"I'm on the vote boat\" alongside an illustration of the SS ballot adorned with an American flag, was selected from 51 submissions. The contest, open to students in grades K-5, garnered over 1,700 votes from the public. The Board of Elections plans to print 2,000 stickers featuring Sapp's design for distribution during the upcoming 2024 general election.

The second recognition went to Ruby LaCroix, a sixth grader from Boynton Middle School, who won the 2024 I Voted Sticker Contest. LaCroix's design, which depicts a cheerful frog sitting on a flower, was chosen from over 100 submissions from students in grades 6-12. This contest also received more than 1,700 votes. The Board of Elections will print 40,000 stickers featuring LaCroix's design for voters in the upcoming election.

The meeting, which began with the recognition of these young artists, also included announcements of five executive sessions planned for later in the evening. The legislature expressed pride in the participation and creativity shown by the youth in these contests, highlighting the importance of engaging the next generation in the democratic process.