Clardy Elementary students’ winning art to debut on Clay County ‘I Voted’ stickers

MARCH 13, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In a unique blend of civic duty and creative flair, the simple "I Voted" sticker is getting a Northland makeover thanks to a group of students at Clardy Elementary. 

The Clay County Election Board announced six winning designs that will be handed out to thousands of voters starting with the April 7, 2026, election. 

The young artists behind the winning entries are fifth graders Brynlee Chalmers, Ella Ewing, Bao Nguyen, Iris Masters, Kenzie Geist and Loren Corrao. The students created their masterpieces last year as part of a fourth-grade government curriculum within North Kansas City Schools.

The sticker design project, which originally launched in 2023, aims to bridge the gap between textbook lessons and real-world participation and allows students to see their artwork become a functional tool of democracy. 

“By inviting students into the design process, we create a ripple effect of engagement throughout Gladstone and the surrounding community,” said Tiffany Ellison, director of the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners.

Clardy Elementary principal Dr. Andrea Eatinger said the project brought learning to life for our her students.

“They were able to connect what they learned in class with something meaningful," Eatinger said. "Watching our students take ownership of their learning and artwork was incredibly powerful, and it is even more rewarding to see it reflected in the community.”

"This project brought learning to life for our Clardy students,” Eatinger said. “They were able to connect what they learned in class with something meaningful. Watching our students take ownership of their learning and artwork was incredibly powerful, and it is even more rewarding to see it reflected in the community.”

The students spent weeks researching Missouri symbols and American values to find inspiration, resulting in designs that range from bald eagles landing on Missouri soil to hands clasped in unity to represent diversity.

“These students aren’t just drawing, they are designing democracy,” Clardy art teacher Diane Settich said.

Her students incorporate complex themes like social change and the history of voting rights into their small circular canvases. 

According to Ellison, the most profound impact occurs on Election Day. 

“When students see their parents, teachers and neighbors wearing stickers they, or their friends, designed, it builds an immediate, tangible bond between the classroom and the community,” she said.

This early engagement fosters a "future voter" mentality, Ellison adds, giving students a sense of ownership in the democratic process long before they reach voting age. 

For the public, these stickers are more than a badge of participation but a visual reminder that a single vote is a direct investment in the next generation. 

The Clay County Election Board has committed to a biennial rotation for the program, ensuring this opportunity reaches students throughout the county by selecting a new district every two years. 

Following this successful run with North Kansas City Schools, the sticker collection will remain available at polling locations through the November 2027 election.

About Clardy Elementary

Opened in 1959, Clardy Elementary serves grades 2 through 5 and shares a community with the Gashland K–1 center. Recently named the Best Public School in the Northland and home to the Best School Library in Missouri, Clardy is a designated high-achieving school recognized for superior performance on state assessments.

Media Contact

Chris Oberholtz, Assistant Director of Media Communications
chris.oberholtz@nkcschools.org | 816-836-938