Nabuiginnah “Naboo” Madzeweyu Yellowjohn third grader from Tyhee Elementary has been named Best in Show in the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 America Through the Eyes of Our Learners Fine Arts Exhibition.

This exhibition is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, according to a news release from Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25. Naboo’s piece “The Land Hears Me,” was selected out of 250 student submissions from across the district. Naboo is a fourth-generation Native American flute player, and he also submitted a video of himself performing on his flute.

“My drawing shows the mountain behind my house,” Naboo shared in his submission. “I made it because my parents told me to try, and when I draw or play music, it helps me feel better. This picture shows where I live and how the land around me feels calm and strong.”

The exhibition was held at Gate City Coffee during the Historic Downtown Pocatello First Friday Art Walk. It showcased student creativity through visual art, written work and multimedia pieces. The students were invited to show what America means to them.

“This event is about more than art—it’s about giving our learners a voice,” Courtney Fisher, Director of Communications, Community Relations and Education Foundation, said in the news release. “Through their work, our learners share their perspectives, creativity, and what America means to them during this once-in-a-generation milestone. Opportunities like this help learners engage with our nation’s history, values, and ideals in meaningful ways, and we are proud to showcase that with our community.”

Awards were presented across grade levels and categories. More than $3,000 in prize money was provided through the support of the School District 25 Education Foundation.The district expressed gratitude for the organizing committee members for planning and implementing the event. It also expressed gratitude for Gate City Coffee for hosting the exhibition and providing a community space to show the various pieces of art.

Best in Show

Nabuiginnah “Naboo” Madzeweyu Yellowjohn, 3rd Grade, Tyhee Elementary School — The Land Hears Me

Visual Arts

High School

1st Place: Kamry Curtis, Century High School — Ripples in a Dream

2nd Place: Michelle Krumenacker, Century High School — A Rhythm for the Restless

3rd Place: Samantha Riecks, Highland High School — Liberty’s Harbor

Honorable Mention: Anesa Bills, Pocatello High School — Laissez Faire

Honorable Mention: Harrison Arnold, Highland High School — Through it All, the Flag Still Stands

Middle School

1st Place: Olavi Aho, Franklin Middle School — 250

2nd Place: Aubrey Buffalo, Franklin Middle School — Our Shared Flame

3rd Place: Rowan Dallon, Franklin Middle School — From the Rockies

Honorable Mention: Syan Hooper, Hawthorne Middle School — The Beautiful Lies and the Harsh Reality

Honorable Mention: Sadie Johnson & Kalista Gibbson, Irving Middle School — Untitled

Elementary School

1st Place: Ralston Tharp, Gate City Elementary

2nd Place: Skye Anderson, Gate City Elementary

3rd Place: Solomon Ryu, Gate City Elementary

Honorable Mention: Eli Haney, Syringa Elementary

Honorable Mention: Ginelly Ferreyra, Syringa Elementary

Written Arts

High School

1st Place: Sasha Ivers, Pocatello High School

2nd Place: Mara Hoskins, Century High School

3rd Place: Sarah Ivers, Pocatello High School

Honorable Mention: Emily Teuscher, Pocatello High School

Middle School

1st Place: Tennasey Stevens, Hawthorne Middle School — Life as an American

2nd Place: Adelaide Early, Hawthorne Middle School — Hope

3rd Place: Hannah Siler, Hawthorne Middle School — Free at Last

Honorable Mention: Jax Pearson, Andrew Bragg, Grayson Christen, Linus Eckman, Hawthorne Middle School — The Fourth of July

Honorable Mention: Lozen Herkshan Osborne, Hawthorne Middle School — The Heroes of the Past

Honorable Mention: Parley Harmon, Hawthorne Middle School — Colossus

Elementary School

1st Place: Emmy Youngblood, Syringa Elementary, Equality

2nd Place: Mazie Lewis, Syringa Elementary, Civic Dutys

3rd Place: Dylan Derrick, Syringa Elementary, Opportunity

Honorable Mention: Skylar McNabb, Syringa Elementary, Horse

Multi-Media

High School

1st Place: Highland High School Student Government — America Built by the Ordinary

2nd Place: Christine Reudter, Pocatello High School , Long Beach WA

3rd Place: Mark Smith, Pocatello High School — Yee-Haw

Honorable Mention: Graphic Design Class, Graphic Design Pathway

Honorable Mention: Business Program, PV-TEC — Celebrating 250 Years of American Business Success

Honorable Mention: Photography Program, PV-TEC — 250 Years of Photography in the United States

Middle School

1st Place: Chloe Davis, Hawthorne Middle School — Let America be Great Again

2nd Place: Maverick Leoni & Mason Hopkins, Hawthorne Middle School — MM’s History

3rd Place: Orchestra, Alameda Middle School — Yankee Doodle

Honorable Mention: Orchestra, Hawthorne Middle School — The World Turned Upside Down

Honorable Mention: Scott Muir, Hawthorne Middle School — Eagle of America

Honorable Mention: Dawsen Lewis, Hawthorne Middle School — Stars in America

Elementary School

1st Place: Braden Ramirez, Indian Hills Elementary — Flag Mask

2nd Place: Aurora “Rory” Jones, Gate City Elementary — The Patriotic Bird