Nipher Middle School student Lluvia Matlalcuatzi-Munoz was announced as a winner in the annual St. Louis County Department of Public Health (DPH) Healthy Living 2023 Calendar winner. Her design was one of 13 winners announced from the 254 creative poster submissions from students across the St. Louis area.

Annually, DPH invites all K-12 students in St. Louis County to create and submit artwork that encourages healthy habits. This year students were asked to pick from six different healthy habits and make a colorful, creative poster. The healthy habits included:

• Healthy eating
• Healthy friendships
• Healthy hygiene
• Reducing and preventing stress (positive ways)
• Staying physically active
• Saying no to drugs and alcohol

Lluvia’s poster focused on preventing stress with a message to meditate. A representative from DPH stopped by Nipher to present Lluvia with a prize package which included her artwork framed, calendars, and a gift card to the Saint Louis Zoo. Lluvia participated in the project as part of Dr. Ellen Holley's art class. Holley’s classes participate in “sketchbook challenges” which offer student artists opportunities to create artwork for wider audiences through contests and exhibitions at local, state, and national levels. 

The Healthy Living Calendar serves as a great reminder for students and adults to develop and continue healthy habits in their lives.

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Photo release: Desiree Whitlock, Representative from Dr. Sam Page's office; Dr. Ellen Holley, Art Teacher, Nipher Middle School; Rachel Ringgenberg, St. Louis County Dept. of Health; Dana Giboney-Wallace, Health Education Coordinator for St. Louis County Department of Health); Lluvia Matlalcuatzi-Munoz, Nipher student; Patricia Munoz Susano, parent; Carlos Matlalcuatzi Hernandez, parent;  Dr. Laura Havener, Principal, Nipher Middle School.