CATS Unveils Winning Bus Artwork Created By Local Students

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Area Transit officials unveiled two CATS buses decorated with artwork made by local students on Thursday.

Officials say the students, in addition to having their artwork displayed, will receive a $1,000 scholarship each for winning the CATS’ second-annual student art competition.

The winners of the student art competition are Katherine Weekers, a student at William Amos Hough High School, and Gwen Knutson, a student at Queens University, and were picked by a committee of transit professionals, city officials, and local art professionals.

Using this year’s theme of unity, Weekers’ design, titled Carolina Lily, used a native flower to the Carolinas as her inspiration. She also used vine-like roots throughout the design to emphasize nature promotes unity naturally.

Knutson’s design depicts the unity of Charlotte’s diverse population, and she used abstract colors, line-drawing, and images of deconstructed transit vehicles to convey this message.

CATS officials say the two art buses will be in service for a year, sporting their new and fresh student-made designs.