Among the winning entries published in the book was an illustration by Aaron Baugh, the son of Nikki Khurana-Baugh, vice president for Advancement at Mount Saint Mary College.
For a lot of authors, getting published in a book is an accomplishment that can take decades.
For Colleen Middlemiss’s kindergarten class of 2023 at Bishop Dunn Memorial School, it was a feat that only took a few months.
Nearly 20 of Middlemiss’s students had their artwork published in the 2024 book Me and My Family Featuring Special Sister and I. The publication boasts illustrations by children from all over the United States.
The Young Artists group, the organization behind Me and My Family, runs national art contests for children – in this case, kids from four to seven years old. The children were asked to create portraits of themselves with their family members, including pets.
They received thousands of entries from across the country, with the winners being printed in Me and My Family. The artwork from Bishop Dunn comprises an entire chapter of the book.
“All the pictures of their families – it’s adorable,” said Middlemiss. “The details are great!”
Bishop Dunn, located on the campus of Mount Saint Mary College, was founded in 1883. The school is committed to the academic, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical development of children, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
The Mount maintains a close relationship with Bishop Dunn. Mount Education students do fieldwork at the school, under the guidance of seasoned Bishop Dunn faculty. Many Mount grads go on to work at Bishop Dunn, including Principal Nancy Benfer ’04.