CA: SunLine Transit Agency and Desert Regional Medical Center Honor Student Art Contest Winners

SunLine Transit Agency, in partnership with Desert Regional Medical Center, will honor Taylor Schlicht of Palm Valley School, and Veida Kirby of Nellie N. Coffman Middle School, as its joint winners of the first annual SunLine Student Art Contest June 9, at Desert Regional Medical Center.

SunLine will unveil the Agency’s two new 8th generation hydrogen fuel cell buses wrapped in the winners’ art at a reception as part of the event.

As the Agency continues to provide “Today’s Transit for Tomorrow’s World”, the delivery of these two brand new state-of-the-art, clean fuel buses presented an ideal opportunity to showcase the Valley’s environmentally friendly transit approach, and also make it possible for the wider community to be involved with promoting the use of sustainable transit.

“This inaugural SunLine Transit Agency Student Art Contest aims to connect SunLine’s environment-focused approach to transit with our most precious resource, the youth of our Valley," said Lauren Skiver, General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. "We are so proud of the students, educators and parents who contributed to the success of this event and to our partner, Desert Regional Medical Center, for their support.  It is connections such as these that make living, working and raising our families in this Valley such a gift.”

The art contest was held over a period of several weeks and was aimed at students from both elementary and middle schools across the Coachella Valley. Original art work was submitted to SunLine for judging before the buses were slated for delivery so that the winning artwork could be wrapped around these new technologically-advanced and environmentally-friendly vehicles. The funding of the artwork wraps were co-sponsored by SunLine and Desert Regional Medical Center.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are proud of the tremendous response of the children of this Valley as they demonstrated their artistic skills and creativity, partnering with the Agency and Desert Regional Medical Center to promote the theme of the contest - ‘SunLine buses are good for the Coachella Valley and the environment,’ said SunLine Chairman of the Board and Indio Councilmember Glenn Miller.  “As the new fuel cell buses travel throughout the Valley showcasing the art work of the two contest winners, we will be reminded of the commitment of this community to sustain a healthy, clean environment.”

Carolyn Caldwell, president and CEO of Desert Regional Medical Center said, “Desert Regional Medical Center is so pleased to be part of this art contest, which inspires our children to celebrate wellness and a healthy environment. It is wonderful to see the children’s interpretations of the El Mirador Hotel Tower, which still graces the front of our campus, and remains an iconic image of the Palm Springs region. The partnership with SunLine to promote health and wellness among children fits so well with our other community initiatives. We are proud to support this project.”

SunLine and its partners continue to help raise awareness around public transit, safe traveling for children, students and adults across the region, as well as the need to “think green” when commuting. The delivery of the new buses, together with the art contest, has really enabled both SunLine and Desert Regional Medical Center to promote healthy travel choices in the Valley.

SunLine’s new buses from Ballard Power Systems, BAE Systems and ElDorado National underscores SunLine’s longstanding tradition as a leader in the deployment of clean transportation technologies in the United States and will bring the total number of Ballard powered fuel cell buses to four at SunLine Transit Agency.