LAKELAND, Fla. – Students in Polk County are learning about local government through art, while also raising money for their teachers! These talented fifth graders will be honored and celebrated at the 19th annual Kids Tag Art (KTA) Awards of Distinction (AoD) ceremony on Tuesday evening, March 4.
The Kids Tag Art (KTA) program inspires students to apply their artistic talents to real-world use, by designing their own specialty license plates. Sales are open to the public and can be made online, at www.KidsTagArt.com. The proceeds from sales are paid to the art teachers, as a fundraiser for classroom supplies.
The 18th Annual Polk County Kids Tag Art Award of Distinction. Artwork by Polk County Fifth Grade Students at Branscomb Auditorium, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Fl. March 5th 2024. Photo by Calvin Knight.
Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder founded the first ever KTA program nearly two decades ago, as a way to reach students to introduce them to the very office they will likely visit soon as teenagers for motorist services!
“We want Kids Tag Art to be such positive outreach to young people, early on, and to set a friendly foundation for government and what we do in the Tax Collector’s Office,” Tedder remarked.
The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC) thanks its KTA program sponsors: Major Sponsor Southern Homes of Polk County, Dprint, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Florida Heart Research Foundation, Lauren’s Kids, the Florida Department of Citrus, Big 4 Radio – 97.5 WPCV and Max 98.3, Regal Lakeland Automotive Group, Tampa Electric – TECO, Bill2Pay, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, LAMAR Advertising Company, the Polk Education Foundation, SouthState Bank, the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance, First Lakeland Tag Agency, Publix Super Markets Charities, Unlimited DPI, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital/BayCare Kids, the AGB Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, Straughn Trout Architects, WBF-FM Radio 102.9, and Polk County Public Schools.
Join us! Kids Tag Art Awards of Distinction Ceremony
Branscomb Auditorium, Florida Southern College
Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
*There will be photo, video and interview opportunity to follow as Mr. Tedder installs his award-winning student plate onto his vehicle.