Art & Poetry Contest Winners

As part of Jupiter’s Centennial celebration, students from our community’s middle and high schools were invited to reflect on what Jupiter means to them through art and poetry. The talented young creators featured below were selected as this year’s contest winners, recognized for their creativity, insight, and heartfelt connection to Jupiter. We are proud to showcase their winning works and celebrate the next generation of Jupiter storytellers.

Print of the art and poetry winners to provide to the Jupiter Branch Library for display as announced at the Town Council Meeting.

Division 1 Winners - Grade K-2

First Place Winner

Oliver Qi
Oliver Qi Art

Division 2 Winners - Grade 3-5

First Place Winner

Ethan Tagle

Second Place Winner

Shiven Solanki
Shiven Solanki Art

Division 3 Winners - Middle School

First Place Winner

What Jupiter Means to Me

By Peyton Lau

8th Grade

Homeschool

What does Jupiter mean to you? To me, Jupiter means going to the lighthouse, beaches, and to Bush Wildlife Sanctuary. You can climb the stairs of the lighthouse and look out to the ocean. Jupiter has the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. Bush Wildlife Sanctuary takes care of many animals that are injured and animals that were kept illegally as pets that can't survive in the wild. Jupiter is a wonderful place to live.

I love to climb up the Jupiter lighthouse. Climbing up the 105 steps of stairs is exciting. I also like looking out the windows of the lighthouse at the water. At the top of the lighthouse, it has a great view of the ocean. Sometimes you can see sea animals. We saw 2 manatees swimming by the dock. They have a museum with lots of facts about the lighthouse and Jupiter’s unique history. They also have a large, beautiful tree on a deck that I love to look at, and you can get shade under it while looking at the water. The tree was planted in 1935. Climbing up the Jupiter lighthouse is a highlight of my day.

I love going to the beach to make sandcastles and collect seashells. I always make sandcastles and a big moat with a wall so the castle can survive a little longer before the waves of the ocean destroy the sandcastle. We always collect swirly shells on the beach and in the ocean, and we put them in vases. Last summer, I went to Dune Dogs with my

family after we went to the beach. They have the best hot dogs, onion rings, and ice cream. Dune Dogs is the best place to go after you go to the Jupiter beaches.

Bush Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit sanctuary that takes care of many animals that were injured or kept illegally as pets that can't return to the wild. I love to look at the animals that are there. My favorite animal to see at Bush Wildlife Sanctuary is the North American River Otter. Their names are Charlie and Tater Tot. Tater Tot was getting bullied by the other otters at another sanctuary. Now, Tater Tot and Charlie are best friends. They are very entertaining to watch when they are playing. I participate in a homeschool program at Bush Wildlife Sanctuary. I learn about animals, and I get to hold some of them. I have held snakes, box turtles, opossums, burrowing owls, and baby alligators. After the 6-week program is over, I present a native Florida animal and walk the animal around the audience. Bush Wildlife Sanctuary is an amazing place in Jupiter to visit, and I am so lucky to have it right in my own backyard.

Going to the Jupiter lighthouse, the beach, and Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is what Jupiter means to me. Climbing up the Jupiter lighthouse is one of my favorite things to do in Jupiter. Making sandcastles and collecting swirly shells is what I love about going to the Jupiter beaches. I love being a part of the Junior Naturalist program at Bush Wildlife Sanctuary. Jupiter is very special, and it means a lot to me.

Lau 8th Grade Homeschool

Second Place Winner

Jupiter Dog Beach

By Belleami Dickson

 

Jupiter Dog Beach

Tons of cute dogs there splashing

It makes me happy

Jupiter Dog Beach Belleami Dickson


     Third Place Winner              

 Jupiter

By: Summer Hahner

Jupiter is the crash and spray of the ocean

Just one surf and my heart is stolen

The four-wheeler kicking up mud and grass

The thrill of catching a largemouth bass

The ‘snowbirds’ coming and going

The lawn's long grass that needs mowing

The Summer bikerides in the heat

Pretending that McDonald's water is a treat

Your bare feet getting hot and sore

Jupiter is that and so much more

Summer Hahner Photo

                        

Division 4 Winners - High School

First Place Winner

What Does Jupiter Mean to Me?

By Alice Lin

Jupiter is more than beaches and sun,

More than a place that’s beautiful at night,

It’s laughter echoing through a small, warm room,

The comfort of family by my side.

It’s Sunday-morning-trips to the beach,

Watching the sunrise as I sink into the sand,

It’s friends—some new, some yet to be found—

Together, found memories are made.

It is the beautiful red of the lighthouse,

The proud chime of evening trains.

It’s smiles shared with everyone,

Hope and kindness in every place.

At night, I’m wrapped in warmth,

Counting the stars in my wake.

I know wherever life may take me down,

I know Jupiter is a part of me.

So no matter where I choose to roam,

Jupiter will always be my home.

Second Place Winner

What Does Jupiter Mean to Me?

Preston Lau

Homeschool

9th Grade

Have you ever been to Jupiter, Florida? If not, you should plan a trip here. It is a great place to visit and an even better place to live. Some of my favorite things about Jupiter are Roger Dean Stadium, the beach, and sports leagues. These are the main reasons why I love living in Jupiter.

Rodger Dean Stadium is a baseball stadium in Jupiter. Every year, I go and watch Spring Training. That's when the professionals come down to Jupiter to practice before the start of the season. Rodger Dean Stadium is usually more crowded when there is Spring Training than minor league baseball. I get autographs every year from the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals. They are the two minor league baseball teams that play there. I am part of the kids' club at Rodger Dean Stadium. Every Saturday during a minor league baseball game, I get a free hot dog and a free soda. Sometimes there is a special event, like a giveaway, or if it's a bobblehead night, they give away bobbleheads to the fans. Rodger Dean Stadium is a fun place to go.

Additionally, I love living in Jupiter because of the beaches. I like to go to the beach here in Jupiter when it's hot out in the summer. When I go to the beach, I enjoy snorkeling in the water to find shells and sea glass. I find a lot of cool shells and sea glass every time I go. Another special thing about Jupiter beaches is that dogs are allowed at the beach. I have brought my dogs to the beach a few times, and they loved it. The water at the beach is clear

and refreshing on a hot day. Jupiter beaches are amazing, and one of my favorite parts about living in Jupiter.

Another reason why Jupiter is special is the Jupiter Lighthouse, which you can climb up and get a view of the beautiful water and beaches. It is right next to the Jupiter Inlet, so it is easy to get to before or after the beach. After climbing the lighthouse, we love going to Dune Dogs Cafe because it's right next to the ocean and they have great food. They have specials on certain days of the week. My favorite thing to do is their chilly cheese dog with dot sauce. These are a big part of what makes Jupiter so special.

There are many types of recreational sports in Jupiter that you can play. I played basketball for the first time last year, and I won a Championship with the Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association (JTAA). The recreation center at Jupiter Town Hall lets you play basketball whenever you want. I also play flag football every year in the fall. I have been playing flag football at JTAA for 4 years now. I am on the Steelers right now in the thirteen to fifteen age division. I also played tackle football for the first time at Jupiter High School. I was on the freshman football team this year. My tackle team went undefeated this year and went 5-0. There are a lot of parks and pickleball/tennis courts to play in Jupiter. I love the fact that Jupiter has so many options for playing sports.

In my eyes, Jupiter is a place of happiness, fun, and being able to always find something fun to do. The top reasons why Jupiter means so much to me are Rodger Dean Stadium, the beach, and sports. I really love living in Jupiter because of how beautiful it is and all the fun things I can do.

Third Place Winner

 By: Veronica Scheid

For me, Jupiter means a hidden beauty with lots of things to do and see. Although Jupiter is a small town, that is really one of the reasons it is so magnificent. Jupiter has a close-knit community, which allows us to become closer to each other and form meaningful friendships and bonds with others living here. If I was asked this question by someone who had never had the opportunity to come to Jupiter, I would answer, Jupiter means beaches with wonderful sprawling views of the ocean, surfers cluttered together chatting while they wait for the next wave. Seaturtles popping their heads up as you paddle through the intercoastal, and manatees swimming by. A picturesque view of the vivid red lighthouse peaking through the pines from afar, early weekend mornings, waiting for Jupiter Doughnuts in your PJs. It means catching fish from your backyard or nearby bridge, watching the sunset while eating pizza at the beach. Experiencing the tiny baby loggerhead turtles fluttering around in the tank for the first time, peering through the tanks to see the nurf sharks. Mountain biking through the sand dunes and stopping for tortoises crossing the path, and getting slurpees after. Cruising on a boat with your friends and stopping at the sandbar to eat PubSubs. It means year round summer, with sandy toes and salty hair and a sunkissed face. To me, Jupiter means laid back happiness with a perfect amount of excitement and peacefulness. 

Veronica Scheid Art