Two Russell Elementary students have the privilege of being this week's Hazelwood Patch Whiz Kids. Both, under the age of 10, can now say they are recognized artist.

Cole Gipson, a first grader at Russell, and Eboné Gaither, a fourth grade student took home awards in the 2012 Missouri National Education Association Human Rights Committee’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. poster contest for K-12 students.

Cole won first place in the kindergarten and first grade category. Eboné won second place in the fourth and fifth grade category.

The contest theme was “Through justice, peace and righteousness, I am a drum major for the dream of Dr. King.”

“I felt very excited and happy,” Cole told Hazelwood School District communications specials Charles Bolinger about his win. “I just had to think about my design and my mom helped me with a lot of different ideas.

"Thank you, Martin Luther King Jr., for showing me how I can live your dream."

Eboné was just as pleased with her win. Her poster depicted two students under the title, ‘Color Doesn’t Matter’ along with peace signs and the words, ‘friends’ ‘justice’ and ‘The inside matters.’

“I just knew I wanted to put a cross on my poster to show unity because it doesn’t matter what color you are," she said.

As rewards, Cole received a $50 gift card and engraved plaque and Eboné received a $30 gift card.

The teachers of each student winner also received gift cards.

To read about more Whiz Kids see:

• Hazelwood Students Earn Eagle Scout Ranking
• Hazelwood West and Russell Elementary Students Earn Ribbons at St. Louis Science Fair
• Hazelwood West Senior Princeton University Bound
• Hazelwood West Senior Set to Attend the Kansas City Art Institute
• West Middle Students Take Home 2012 Missouri PTA Reflections Awards