Isabella’s art featured in statewide calendar

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LOCK HAVEN - Isabella Cappellini was accorded a rare honor recently.

She was one of only 13 artists across the state who have their works featured in the Pennsylvania Attorney General's 2009 Drug-Free Calendar.

Isabella, 10, the daughter of Teresa and Luigi Cappellini of Oak Lane, Avis, was chosen from a record field of nearly 700 entries from schools throughout 58 counties.

Each year fifth-grade students from across Pennsylvania are encouraged to create an original work of art illustrating a drug-free message of their choice.

Isabella's fellow students at Lock Haven Catholic School, 311 W. Water St., justifiably proud of her accomplishments, were all smiles as she was called out for a surprise interview with The Express this week.

The young artist came up with an aquatic theme for her effort, one featuring fish, a mermaid and the message, "Dive Into Life ... Don't Drown in Drugs"

"I chose that because I want to be a marine biologist and I just love the ocean," she said. "Our family has traveled to Florida and I found a lot of shells. I once saved a starfish that washed up onto the sand and put it back into the ocean."

Isabella said she has several hobbies, but she loves singing, riding horseback and learning about the ocean.

She also likes being creative with art, but said she never imagined she'd be one of the finalists in a statewide contest.

"It was very surprising," she said. "I didn't know I'd ever win something this big. My mom was really excited. My parents took off work to drive me to Harrisburg, and I wore a pink and black dress.

Other members of the Cappellini family include a brother, Dante, age 5, and a pet hamster named "Butterscotch."

Isabella and her parents, both of whom work at First Quality Inc., were recently treated to an awards ceremony and luncheon in Harrisburg, during which Attorney General Tom Corbett recognized the 10-year-old's accomplishments.

"She's very creative," said Isabella's teacher, Michele Alexander, "and she's very good at what she does. She worked really hard on the wording of her message to get it just right, and it took a lot of time and effort on her part to put it all together."

According to Corbett, the winners were chosen based on their creativity and ability to illustrate and convey a drug-free message.

"Four-four percent of all middle-schoolers have personally seen illegal drugs used or sold and other students drunk or high on school property," Corbett said. "This contest is one way to help educate students about drug use prevention and living a drug-free life.

At the ceremony he presented the winners with certificates of achievement and savings bonds. Isabella received a $200 U.S. Savings Bond for her effort.