Katy-area student Jiyun Kim was named the Elementary National First Place winner in the American Heroes Student Art Contest organized by Freedom 250 in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

She attended the national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on July 8, where student artists from across the United States were honored as part of the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. Her artwork -- “Her World Beyond Sight and Sound,” honoring Helen Keller -- was also exhibited at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.

Kim was also recognized as the Southwest Regional Winner and the Texas State Winner.

“I loved doodling little things when I was young, and I still do,” Kim told the Katy Times in an email interview. “After my family moved to the United States, I began taking art classes. I have now been studying art for about six years.”

“My art teacher entered my artwork in the contest,” she said. “At first, I did not know it was such a large national competition or that I might get to travel to Washington, D.C., for the national awards ceremony.”

Kim was inspired to create “Her World Beyond Sight and Sound” after completing a school project about Helen Keller, and the following artist statement was displayed with her artwork at the exhibition: “I chose Helen Keller because I think her story is really inspiring. Even though she could not see or hear, she still learned how to communicate and understand the world in her own way. She shows that people can achieve great things even when facing difficulties. In my artwork, I showed her touching braille and holding a flower. The braille represents how she learned to read and connect with others, and the flower shows that she could still experience beauty through touch and smell. I used soft colors and visible brushstrokes to make the painting feel calm and thoughtful. I painted this to show that even in silence and darkness, there is still beauty, strength, and meaning. It reminds us that everyone experiences the world in their own unique and meaningful way.”

But Kim is already thinking about the world beyond art. “I would like to become an entrepreneur and run a green architecture company,” she said. “I love math and science, which are important foundations for architecture, but I also love art and design. I think those interests would help me create buildings that are both functional and unique. I have always wanted to become an entrepreneur because I enjoy organizing and managing things. I would especially like to lead a green architecture company because I often think about the Earth and what people can do to help protect the environment.”

Kim was a fifth-grade student at Tom Wilson Elementary School, where she participated in choir and enjoyed performing and going on field trips with friends. She also served on the school safety patrol for 27 weeks. Kim is especially interested in math, biology, and physics, and her hobbies include dancing, reading, creating art, shopping, and singing.