An Indian Creek fifth grader who’s never been to Downtown Indy, Inc.’s Circle of Lights will take center stage this weekend as one of five students in the state chosen to participate in the large-scale holiday event.
Rhiannon Cravens is passionate about art. She says she has been for as long as she can remember. Now, that passion has landed her a spot in the big city’s annual Circle of Lights event tonight on Monument Circle. The event includes performances from area choirs and musicians, fireworks and a visit from Santa himself. It typically draws a crowd of about 100,000 people.
Indian Creek Intermediate School art teacher Paula Lehman encouraged students in her classes to color a picture she could submit as part of the Indianapolis Power and Light Company’s coloring contest. Cravens decided to make it her own, turning the original drawing into a snow globe with downtown Indy’s skyline inside. Her unique creation was selected from more than 1,000 entries from around the state.
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“When she was doing her drawing, she was pretty determined to win. When she puts her mind to something, she can usually accomplish it. She’s pretty dedicated,” said Shelly Cravens, Rhiannon’s mom. “I was really excited as well. I was actually in tears when her art teacher called me.”
Shelly Cravens was at work, so she had to wait until she got home to tell Rhiannon. She knew her daughter would be over the moon about it, so she videotaped her reaction, she said.
“I was really excited because I kept thinking about how cool it would be to win, and then when I actually did, I was really shocked,” Rhiannon Cravens said.
As a winner, she will receive a $529 college scholarship and several other gifts courtesy of several Circle of Lights sponsors. Along with the other four winners, Rhiannon will appear on stage during the lighting of the tree.
The 10-year-old said she plans to use the scholarship to study architecture at Purdue University.
The Cravens family has never attended the Circle of Lights, but they’ve watched it on TV, so Rhiannon has an idea of what to expect. She’s nervous, sure. But she’s more excited, she said.
The one-hour show will air live at 7 p.m. tonight on NBC — WTHR Channel 13 locally.
Rhiannon’s advice to fellow amateur artists is simple.
“Just be yourself and God will take over,” she said. “And know that this is how far he can get you.”
