October 26, 2021
The 2021 Street Painting Festival, hosted by the Noon Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, is in the books having raised more than $14,000 to help fund scholarships for Roane State students in Anderson County.
Held in Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square each October, the festival blends art, history and community together for a fun event in support of local students. Nearly $300,000 in scholarships issued by the nonprofit Roane State Foundation have been provided to students since the start of the festival in 1999.
Festival sponsors make a tax-exempt donation to the Foundation, with levels ranging from $5,000 for Platinum down to $100 for Individual. Sponsors’ names are assigned to sidewalk squares upon which the artists then paint pictures with chalk.
Materials and Chemistry Laboratory, Inc. (MCLinc) once again sponsored the event at the Platinum Level. 2021 marked the 20th consecutive year of festival sponsorship for MCLinc.
Additional community sponsors include ORNL Federal Credit Union and UCOR, along with many other organizations, businesses and individuals.
The theme for the 2021 event, “Honoring Scarboro 85,” recognizes the first Black students from the former Scarboro School who integrated Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High on September 6, 1955.
Cash prizes were awarded to participants. Best of Show received $300 while the People’s Choice Award earned $200. Other prizes for each category were $75 for first place, $25 for second, and $15 for third. Artists that create chalk art clearly inspired by the “Honoring Scarboro 85” theme also had a chance to win a $25 bonus prize.
The Honoring Scarboro 85 award went to the team of Dawn and Her Guys. People's Choice was awarded to Zoie Ruble and Ruby Melton. And the coveted Best of Show award went to William Wensell. Additional winners in the elementary, middle and high school categories as well as the adult and family categories are listed at roanestate.edu/streetpainting.
Honoring the Scarboro 85: Dawn and Her Guys
People's Choice: Zoie Ruble & Ruby Melton
Best in Show: William Wensell
The Roane State Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) corporation governed by an independent board of directors and established to provide financial support for Roane State students and programs. The Foundation seeks to enhance community awareness of the college, to secure private contributions and bequests and to manage monies or properties given to the Foundation. For more information, visit roanestate.edu/foundation or email Foundationdept@roanestate.edu.
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
