The Cypress School District is pleased to announce that Aryav Sheth, a third grade student at Margaret Landell Elementary School, has won first place in his age category for his submission in the 2018 International Aviation Art Contest. This year’s theme was “Flight into the Future.”

Since 1989, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) has sponsored the International Aviation Art Contest to challenge young people to illustrate the importance of aviation through art. By demonstrating the impact of aeronautics through a fun, interactive medium such as art, the program seeks to motivate youth of all ages to become more familiar with aeronautics, engineering, and science.

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 are eligible to participate in the annual contest. Entries are judged in three categories, according to age, for creative use of the theme in relation to the aviation world. Each FAI member country sponsors the contest in their country and submits national winners to the International Jury each year.

In December, Aryav won first place in his age group in the 28th Annual John Wayne Airport Student Art Contest. In February, he advanced to the state level contest where he took second place. He qualified to compete at the national level in March and earned second place, which enabled his artwork to be judged at the international level in Lucene, Switzerland, where he was awarded first place.

“I am very proud of Aryav,” said his third grade teacher Summer Etter. “He is a creative and well-rounded scholar!”

The U.S. portion of the art contest is authorized by the National Aeronautic Association, managed by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) Center for Aviation Research and Education, and sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education with additional support from NASAO members.