March is Youth Art Month: a time for art ecucators plan events to exhibit and share their students’ work with the community.  Therefore, in 1993 Mrs. Diana Hampe proposed an art exhibit to Rich Meelia, CEO of Covidien, then Tyco Kendall Healthcare.  Mrs. Hampe says, “I was looking for an authentic experience for my students.”  Since then, the Covidian show has been an opportunity for student artists exhibit their work in a juried show where prizes and  Best of Show ribbons are given out.  The employees of Covidien are the jurists and they vote for their favorites and write comments.

This year, Mrs. Hampe made the show thematic and says “I changed it 3 times becuse space was an issue and I always have alot of excellent work to share.  I think the work is too good not to share it.”  There are 75 pieces in Places and Spaces theme, 60 in Faces and Figures, and 85 in Points of View.

Covidien is very generous with giving to the arts; they give 3 first-place awards of $700, 3 second-place awards of $350, and1 art scholarship for the senior with the most votes overall of $1500.  Covidian also makes a contribution used to supplement the art club, field trips, the air fare for Colorado, and art supplies.

Mrs. Hampe puts in countless hours of preparation matting hundreds of pieces, as well as 3 1/2 hours of hanging up the show.  Mrs. Hampe says, “I take down the work the last day of the month then reassemble for WHS to see and the awards will be announced and a reception for parents to see.”