SunLine Transit Agency spotlights talents of Coachella Valley student artists

Students across the Coachella Valley put pen to paper and unlocked a world of imagination as part of SunLine Transit Agency’s annual Student Art Contest, co-sponsored by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP).

Now in its ninth year, the contest invited students from grades K-12 to submit artwork that promotes the advantages of clean energy and the public transit system. This year’s theme was “#RollWithPublicTransit: Envisioning a Sustainable Future in Motion,” and the winning art will be displayed on the side of SunLine buses and bus shelters.

“We believe this art contest has been a great way to engage the youth in the Coachella Valley, as well as [showcase] SunLine’s commitment to clean fuels and contributions to the protection of clean air in the valley,” said Luciana Starks, vice president, chief of staff for IEHP.

The 2024 contest marked IEHP’s seventh year as a co-sponsor alongside the cities of Palm Desert and LaQuinta. Contest winners and finalists were announced on Nov. 25. They were:

First Place

• Antonio Coloma II, 4^th grade
  Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
• Gabrielle Lou Mercedeine Coloma, 7^th grade
  La Quinta Middle School
• Lily Jones, 12^th grade
  Palm Valley School

Finalists

• Day Valentina Flores Arambula, 5^th grade
  Mountain Vista Elementary School
• Lizette Valenzuela, 2^nd grade
  Cielo Vista Charter School
• Isabella Machado Gonzalez, 6^th grade
  La Quinta Middle School
• Farah Reagan, 7^th grade
  La Quinta Middle School
• LJ Larsen, 7^th grade
  Palm Desert Charter Middle School
• Chanhwee Park, 9^th grade
  Palm Desert High School
• Nahomy Nichole, 12^th Grade
  Desert Hot Springs High School

To learn more about the contest, go to www.sunline.org/studentart.

SunLine Transit Agency announced the winners of its annual Student Art Contest on Nov. 25, inviting the public to view student artwork selected to pepper SunLine buses and bus shelters throughout the Coachella Valley.

Inland Empire Health Plan, along with the cities of Palm Desert and LaQuinta, sponsored the contest, which is open to all area students. 

With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans, the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid public health plan in the country, and for the third year in a row, certified as A Great Place To Work®. In its 27th year, IEHP supports more than 1.5 million Riverside and San Bernardino County residents enrolled in Medicaid or IEHP DualChoice (those with both Medi-Cal and Medicare). Today, IEHP has a growing network of nearly 6,800 providers and more than 3,000 team members who are fully committed to the vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. To learn more, go to iehp.org.