News Features

USB Salutes Young Artists With '27 Calendar

    United Southern Bank’s annual calendar program sees an estimated 7,000 units dispersed for free into the community each year. A fixture in the community, the calendar annually features Lake County and Sumter County - oriented images linking the bank and its customers to both Lake County history and lifestyle. This year, the bank is recognizing its service area’s young artist community, with the calendar featuring original art created by aspiring high school - aged artists and selected via a judging criteria that has seen ten young people’s creations selected for inclusion.
   The artists were recognized during a reception hosted at USB’s Eustis branch on Thursday, September 4. The event featured each artist’s creations mounted for viewing, the artists being recognized by USB President Greg Nelson, and debut of the calendars that will be available at USB branches in the future.
   Artists to be featured in the calendar include Ruby Joslin, 9th grade - Joslin Homeschool Academy, Makenzie Stowell, 10th grade - Eustis High School, Carter Hobbs - 12th grade - Tavares High School, Yuritzi Salinas Martinez, 9th grade - Umatilla High School, Yanelys Fuentes Rios, 11th grade - Eustis High School, Charlotte Estell, 9th grade - Umatilla High School, Emma Nesta, 10th grade - Mount Dora Christian Academy, Ellie Grace Murphy, 11th grade - Umatilla High School, Carly Joell Wright, 12th grade - Mount Dora High School, Saima Hossain, 9th grade - Tavares High School.
   Each selected student received a $100 award, with an upcoming People’s Choice Award offering another $250 to the piece most voted on by the public.
   The calendar includes a brief synopsis of each piece of art, its medium, and which branch the piece will be displayed at during the coming year.
   The images depicted in the calendar range from nature scenes to abstract interpretations, as well as a portrait.