IEHP, SunLine Transit recognizes student art contest winners

Students from the Coachella Valley put their creativity to the test for a chance to have their artwork displayed on the side of SunLine Transit Agency’s eco-friendly bus line.

The agency’s 10^th annual Student Art Contest, sponsored in part by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), asked local youth to design artwork reflecting the theme, “#RideThroughTheDesert: A Journey of Color, Motion, and Eco-Friendly Transit in the Coachella Valley.” Winners in three grade categories from K-12 were announced Nov. 24.

First Place artwork will be displayed on SunLine’s hydrogen electric fuel bus line along with the agency’s website and marketing materials. Other entries will be displayed at bus shelters throughout the valley.

“When opportunities are created for young people to get creative, it unlocks a whole new world of possibilities,” said IEHP Strategic Provider Partnerships Program Administrator Emerly Gopez. “We hope this contest continues to inspire youth to celebrate their talent and use it to forge a brighter, healthier future.”

SunLine’s Director of Board and External Affairs Edith Hernandez agreed.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to uplifting our community, and we’re thrilled to recognize winners who inspire positive change,” she said.

Representatives from all sponsorship agencies, which also included the cities of La Quinta and Palm Desert, attended the November reception for student finalists. Winners include:

First Place

• Antonio Coloma II, 5^th Grade
  Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
• Gabrielle Coloma, 8^th Grade
  La Quinta High School
• Gerado Silva, 12^th Grade
  Desert Hot Springs High School

Second Place

• Dya Valentina Flores Arambula, 6^th Grade
  Mountain Vista Elementary School
• Jesus Vega, 8^th Grade
  Imagine School Riverside-Coachella
• Farah Reagan, 9^th Grade
  La Quinta High School

More on the annual creative event can be found at www.sunline.org/community/student-art-contest.

To learn more about IEHP and its work in the community, visit the IEHP Newsroom at www.iehp.org.

With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans, the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid public health plan in the country, and for the fifth year in a row, certified as A Great Place To Work®. Founded in 1996, IEHP supports more than 1.5 million Riverside and San Bernardino County residents enrolled in Medicaid or IEHP DualChoice (those with both Medi-Cal and Medicare). As of 2024, IEHP also offers Covered California plans, further ensuring health care access for even more IE residents. Today, IEHP has a robust network of quality doctors throughout our two counties and nearly 3,800 team members who are fully committed to the vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. To learn more, go to iehp.org.