RALEIGH – Three North Carolina students have earned national honors in the 2025 U.S. Youth Aviation Art Contest for artwork they created celebrating aviation's pioneering women.
The annual competition celebrates young artists who bring the spirit of flight to life through art and is hosted by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and the National Aeronautic Association (NAA).
This year's contest theme, “Women with Wings," challenged students to illustrate the fearless women who took to the skies, shattered barriers and proved that aviation is for everyone. North Carolina was one of many states to submit artwork following state-level contests and over 140 submissions were entered in the national competition this year.
North Carolina's national winners include:
Intermediate Category:
- First Place: Sofia Garcia-Vazquez, of Davis Drive Middle School in Cary
Senior Category:
- First Place: Soyoon Kim, of Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill
- Third Place: Catherine Park, of Cary Christian School in Cary
“These young artists did a phenomenal job capturing the legacy and impact of women in aviation," said Nick Short, interim director of the NCDOT Division of Aviation. “Their creativity and passion shine through in their work and we're thrilled to see them recognized on a national level."
The national winners will now advance to the 2025 International Aviation Art Contest, where their artwork will compete against submissions from around the world. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) will judge the international round in June.
The U.S. Youth Aviation Art Contest is part of a global initiative designed to inspire young people to explore aviation through artistic expression. North Carolina has a strong tradition of success in the contest, reflecting the state's rich aviation history and ongoing efforts to encourage the next generation of aviators and aerospace professionals.
19 student artists from North Carolina, including this year's three winners, have received awards in the previous national art contest and 3 have earned international prizes.