T.F. North student wins Tollway map art contest
Winning entry depicts everyday heroes
“Doing art isn’t my focus; it’s my second focus. My first focus is doing cross country and track and we didn’t have any races this fall.”
— Samantha Cervantes
Samantha Cervantes didn’t have the opportunity to run cross country this fall at Thornton Fractional North because District 215 canceled all fall sports.
That didn’t stop her from winning, although she had to get creative to do it.
Cervantes recently was announced as the grand prize winner of the 2021 Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Map Cover Art Contest.
“Doing art isn’t my focus; it’s my second focus,” she said. “My first focus is doing cross country and track and we didn’t have any races this fall.”
This year, Cervantes and other high school artists were invited to highlight Everyday Heroes, everyday people doing extraordinary things, to be featured on the cover of the Tollway’s 2021 map. Among those are the professionals at the Illinois Tollway who have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to continue serving millions of customers daily traveling the 294-mile Illinois Tollway system across 12 northern Illinois counties.
“She’s basically a model student who gives 100%, gets everything done on time and gets really good grades,” T.F. North art teacher Jessica Basinger said. “She entered the contest through our Art Club. We just posted it on Google Classroom and she took it upon herself to do a drawing and get it all done on her own.”
Due to the pandemic, the entire contest was managed virtually via the Illinois Tollway’s official Facebook page, with Cervantes and the runners-up selected by the number of “likes” within that gallery.
“I was with my mom at the store when she told me that I won the contest,” she said. “I was surprised. I didn’t expect to win. I just did it for fun. My teacher told me about the contest and I decided to join in.”
Everyday heroes are helping and saving lives and it will be documented by Cervantes’ creative take on those who are making a positive impact on people’s lives despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Samantha’s winning artwork will serve as a reminder that our world is in good hands with everyday heroes like nurses, firefighters and roadway workers working day and night to keep everyone safe,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez said. “We posted some great artwork from students at schools throughout Northern Illinois and appreciate the talent and creativity of the students and their teachers.”
Binging one particular American medical drama television series inspired Cervantes.
“I watch a lot of ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ but I don’t know if that was my inspiration; it was something off the top of my head,” she said. “I wanted to create something that was about surgeons, doctors and firefighters and there’s a heart in the picture representing everyone in the world trying to come together during this pandemic.”
She said she added the vehicles to show that they are rushing to help everyone. The sun represents that “even though these are dark times for everyone, there is still a little bit of light this year.”
It’s the most time, thought and effort Cervantes has put into a particular art project and one she had to be especially patient in completing.
“I would work on it for 40 minutes or so each day and it took six days to finish it,” she said. “I have made other art that has taken a lot of time as well, but this one was different. I put more thought into it and I like to put my feelings in it as well.”
Basinger said her talent is evident.
“I have her in graphic design and she’s a natural artist,” she said. “She has an eye for it. She knows all about layouts and what things work well and how to basically lay it out so well. She’s great.”
While being artistic isn’t anything new for the sophomore, recognizing that there are opportunities out there for her, like this contest, is something she hadn’t known previously.
“I’m thinking about maybe going into art further since it’s something I enjoy doing,” she said. “It makes me happy that I created something and have it like a trophy.”
She said making art helps reduce stress.
“I like to create something beautiful in the moment, and when I see others enjoying my artwork it makes me happy that I can share it with others,” she said.
Next, she will share the tollway with other drivers, but first she has to get her license.
“That’s definitely something I’ve thought about,” she said. “I’m in driver’s ed now but I still need to get my permit.”