First Place
- High School Our Town: The Promised Land "Progress lies not
in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be." Traveling toward a bright, flaming sunset, the pioneers of Oklahoma made their way across an unknown land, progressing toward a golden opportunity -- our towns. The belief that our state is always moving ahead toward a golden future is the basis of our collage. The spark for the idea occurred when our class visited the Gilcrease Museum. There we saw many western paintings, but Albert Bierstadt's artworks reminded us of his picture, "Immigrants Crossing the Plains," portrayed in our history book. This painting, in Oklahoma City's Cowboy Hall of Fame, represents to us the essence of towns across the state: While remembering our Indian and pioneer heritage, we are continually moving toward the promise of a brighter future. "Hope is like the sun, which as we journey toward it, casts the
shadow of our Our wagon represents the Oklahoma Boomers- a people ready to turn the prairie and dirt roads into super highways...building cities in the process. Our collage demonstrates how we live, starting with a tipi to show our Indian heritage, continuing with a small town along the road, and ending with Oklahoma City on the horizon. Even the buffalo that were hunted close to extinction are now on the road to a comeback Just behind the covered wagon, we have a subtle reminder of our town, Claremore. There, looking curiously at a young foal is a zebra, our school's mascot. "Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier." The open land in our picture epitomizes the open minds of Oklahomans,
ready to learn. Just as the pioneer in the collage is on the threshold
of civilization, our state is on the cutting edge of education. We have
more National Board Certified teachers than almost any other state. Our
career "The principle mark of genius is not perfection but originality,
the opening of Our collage shows how Okiahomans worked to change the frontier from dusty prairie to green pastures. The farmers harvesting the wheat and the ranchers working the cattle symbolize just a few of the ways we work in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is known for seeking new frontiers...from Wiley Post and our own Will Rogers in the aviation frontier, to our national weather service in Norman, represented by our colorful, stormy sunset. "Whatever there be of progress in life comes not through adaptation
but In our collage, the baseball stadium in Bricktown represents play. Building the stadium and renovating Bricktown was a risk that turned a run-down part of Oklahoma City into a place of fun and entertainment...a place to play. "Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we are
looking through Oklahomans are a faithful and Godly people. The Indian, high on the cliff, praying to the Great Spirit, characterizes this aspect of our state. "The golden age is before us, not behind us." We selected Oklahoma City to be in the golden light. Behind us in the past is the Murrah Building bombing, a devastating time in our state's history; but the capitol with its new dome is seen on the horizon, a symbol of our undaunting pioneer and Native American spirit. Our wagons are headed to an even brighter future...Our Towns...the Promised Land. |