Fourth-grade Detroit student wins Skillman Foundation's float design contest
It took 9-year-old Aaliyah Crowder five tries to complete her colorful drawing of a young Black girl surrounded by rainbows, promoting togetherness on Thanksgiving. Now, the fourth-grader's design has come to life as a float that will be featured in this year's America's Thanksgiving Day parade.
Aaliyah was named the grand prize winner on Monday of the 32nd annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest. Beating out hundreds of other students who submitted designs, she'll also get to ride on the float down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning with her family.
Aaliyah, a student at University Prep Art & Design Elementary since kindergarten, said she was "honored" to have her drawing picked.
"My art teacher, Ms. Martin, asked us to draw anything that we felt for the float ... 'anything that feels right with you.' So I drew what felt right with me and I drew what I call surreal art. And surreal art is basically art that comes from your imagination," Aaliyah said.
The girl she drew represents "anybody, any Black girl who wants to stand up and have a message like that," Aaliyah said. Her design, titled "Together We Shine," was created to remind people that the community has to work together.
Like Aaliyah's picture which depicts Earth, the float features a 10-foot globe and a colorful rainbow.
Aaliyah's parents said she's always been a creative, funny person who has liked to draw, sing and dance since she was very young.
Portia Crowder, 34, said her daughter is a jack of all trades and described her as "limitless."
"She'll make something out of nothing. She'll take a shirt and make it into a dress. She'll grab anything and make it into something," said Portia Crowder.
Antoine Crowder watched as his daughter, Aaliyah, took pictures and created videos in front her float and said he is not surprised she won the grand prize.
"The surprising thing is not the fact that she drew it, it's the fact that people get to see it and be in love with it, so she can feel the same love that she gives to everybody else because that's who she is all day everyday," said Antoine Crowder, 36.
"I call her our love child. She loves the world. ... She has a gift for making people feel special. And it's cool to see the world give that energy back to her. ... I'm glad she's able to experience this," he said.
The Skillman Foundation and The Parade Company unveiled the float at the Parade Company's headquarters Monday afternoon alongside Aaliyah, her family, teachers and five other students who were runner-ups.
"Today we get to see incredible student art, we get a special preview of this year's Skillman float, and we meet brilliant young Detroiters who have shared their talents and vision with us," Angelique Power, the foundation's president and CEO, said in a release. "Getting a glimpse into how young people envision the future is a true kickoff to the holiday season, reflecting on what is and designing what could be."
Hundreds of Detroit middle school students entered the contest to design a drawing themed "Kids Can Change the World!” which encouraged students to design the change they’d like to make for the world.
Monday's event recognized Aaliyah and five other students who were selected as "honorable mentions": Bates Academy students Simone Dixon and Genesis Pope; Fisher Magnet Upper Academy students Kayla Gadie and Trinity Russell; and John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy student Skylar Sowell.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com