The judges have spoken!
The Betty Griffin Center is excited to announce an art submission from Fruit Cove Middle School seventh-grader Kruthisri Muthyala (pictured above) and a poem submitted by Ponte Vedra High School eleventh-grader Madelyn McDermott were selected as first-place winners in the 2026 Day Without Violence Art and Poetry Calendar Contest.
Second place winners were Genevieve Holladay, a sixth-grader at Fruit Cove Middle School, for art, and Fruit Cove Middle School sixth-grader Viktoriia Bugaeva, for poetry.
“We received over 1,000 submissions from St. Johns County Students this year, which was a fantastic response,” said Betty Griffin Center CEO Kelly Franklin. “And again we thank the St. Johns County School District for their participation in the calendar contest, which helps raise awareness of our work to serve survivors of domestic violence throughout the county.”
The top 12 student artworks and poems will be featured in the calendar, with printing sponsored by Raintree Graphics.
Nearly 3,000 calendars will be distributed among county schools next year and calendars will be on sale at the two thrift shoppes operated by Betty Griffin Center. Contest winners will also have their artwork displayed at the Crisp Ellert Art Museum throughout October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Students receiving honorable mention include:
Art
Emma Vanderburg, Palm Valley Academy – 8th Grade
Piper Pajic, Millcreek Academy — 4th Grade
Surrey Dotson, Freedom Crossing Academy – 8th Grade
Charlotte Green, Mill Creek Academy – 5th Grade
Emma Dougherty, Pacetti Bay Middle School – 8th Grade
James Hill, Freedom Crossing- 7th Grade
Gabriella Moura, Freedom Crossing Academy – 8th Grade
Kayla Salamone, Freedom Crossing Academy – 7th Grade
Avahlea Rapp, Freedom Crossing Academy – 8th Grade
Leah Andarcio, Pine Island Academy – 7th Grade
Jessica Tatvets, Ponte Vedra High School – 11th Grade
Poetry
Johannah Cap, Fruit Cove Middle School – 7th Grade
Lauren Wild, Ponte Vedra High School – 12th Grade
Ryan Hancin, Ponte Vedra High School – 11th Grade
Sophia Stone, Hickory Creek Elementary School – 5th Grade
Lani Mai, Ponte Vedra High School – 11th Grade
Ridhi Maddi, Fruit Cove Middle School – 6th Grade
Mary Jenkins, Ponte Vedra High School – 12th Grade
Evie Knight, Fruit Cove Middle School – 6th Grade
Emma Soto, Hickory Creek Elementary – 5th Grade
Elle Margulis, Ponte Vedra High School – 11th Grade
Sheri Gaitlings, a community member, Betty Griffin Center volunteer and local poet, judged the poetry this year, and art judges included St Augustine Art Association members and local artists Martha Furgerson and Nikki Rakov (pictured here).
This year’s contest also included a prize for the teachers that encouraged their students to participate and submitted the most entries. The teachers with the most poetry submissions were Ms. Karen Feiser at Ponte Vedra High School and Ms. Debbie Doemel at Fruit Cove Middle School. The teachers with the most art submissions were Ms. Kathryn Frericks at Freedom Crossing and Ms. Jennifer Penaherrea at Millcreek Academy.
The contest was open to all St. Johns County students in kindergarten through 12th grade, whether they attended public school, private school or were home-schooled. The number of entries vary each year, depending on the number of students that participate. First-place winners will receive $50, second-place winners receive $25 and all students receiving honorable mentions receive $10 each, along with a certificate and a copy of the calendar. Students will also be recognized at the St. Johns County School Board Meeting in October.