North Charleston, SC — At the end of this past school year, students at North Charleston High School (NCHS) received the opportunity for their art to be displayed on billboards throughout the Charleston Area. Those interested submitted their artwork for a contest (through the school) to determine which images would be featured.

Representatives from Adams Outdoor Advertising proposed a student showcase on local billboards to NCHS art teacher Jennifer Connell in the fall. They would display images on digital and physical billboard spaces around Charleston and North Charleston. Principal Henry Darby accepted the partnership with Adams; the company sponsored the contest and 12 billboards for the students. The billboard donation is valued at more than $35,000.

Connell launched the contest in the spring, and four winners and an honorable mention were selected: Fatima Cuevas (“Angela Davis”), Damian Mackley (“The Mind State”), Charisma Murray (“Lashes”), and Jasmine Parrot (“Malcolm X”). Kerchief Reed also received an honorable mention for his submission, “Blue Heart.”

“We are so grateful that Adams donated these billboards to us,” said Connell. “The Adams staff were outstanding and provided our young cougar artists with an amazing experience this challenging year. The students and their guardians are so proud.”

Prior to the contest, the art students received a lesson on billboards, advertising, and design. They explored the career field and began their submission pieces. Once the students finished and submitted their artwork, the creative staff at Adams, as well as a local artist, Gail Robertson, judged the students’ entries.

In May 2021, the 12 billboards were unveiled throughout the Charleston Area. The artwork remained on display for two months, and after being taken down, the vinyl billboards were gifted to the respective student artists.

For more information, please email Jennifer Connell at jennifer_connell@charleston.k12.sc.us.