Department of Art and Design unveils student billboard; Congratulations Esther Miller

Department of Art and Design unveils student billboard centered around responsible online choices
Department of Art and Design unveils student billboard centered around responsible online choices

Congratulations to Esther Miller, winner of the annual billboard design contest for Colonie Central High School digital art students! Her winning billboard was unveiled in front of her family and classmates on Route 155 (New Karner Road) just south of Central Avenue.

As in the past years, high school students taking a digital art course worked with Lamar Advertising to create a public service announcement billboard to be displayed in the community for a least a month. This year, students learned more about internet safety by hosting guest speakers in their class, reading articles, watching videos, and doing independent research. After much brainstorming and digital rendering on that theme, 65 student billboards were created and submitted to Lamar for judging.

Esther’s design was completed by her in its entirety, from photographing another student to creating the text and compiling the composition. As always, Miller’s winning billboard was selected by Lamar employees. The costs of the installation and printing are also covered by the company.

“I thought I was gonna lose and didn’t have my hopes up, but seeing this made me realize anything is possible,” said Esther Miller, grade 12.

More than 28,000 motorists pass by that billboard each day, so the message of internet safety and respect will be strongly heard.

The annual billboard design contest, held each spring, has focused on many other public service issues over the years from drinking and driving to heroin abuse to texting and driving. It is managed by Colonie Central High School Art teachers Justin Defazzio and Christine Festin.