ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Artwork created by Asheville High School students got a showcase beyond the classroom during this month’s Biltmore Championship Asheville, appearing on limited-edition Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn bags created for the PGA TOUR Champions event.
Students in art teacher Kristina Shriver’s class were asked near the end of the last school year to create designs for special Poppy packaging tied to the tournament. Poppy served as the official popcorn of the Biltmore Championship Asheville.
Among the students whose work was selected was Asheville High junior Nia Teshome.
“At the end of the school year, Ms. Shriver presented our class with an assignment that was not just hypothetical, but an actual real-world project — design bags for Poppy Popcorn,” Teshome said. “What an honor and responsibility!”
For Teshome, seeing her work move from a classroom assignment to packaging people could actually hold was a new experience.
“To get the chance to see my own artwork featured on something that people will hold in their hands is incredible, and almost unbelievable,” she said. “Being a part of this project reinforces my dream to work in a creative field.”
The special-edition bags were available for purchase during the tournament and at Biltmore Estate. They were also included in welcome gifts for players, their teams and others visiting Asheville for the event.
The collaboration also benefited the Asheville High School Art Department. Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn and the tournament made a financial donation to the program. The amount was not specified.
The partnership also benefited MANNA FoodBank. Poppy and the tournament selected the organization for a donation, which was matched by The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, bringing the total contribution to $6,000.
Ginger Frank, founder and CEO of Asheville-based Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, said the project grew out of an effort to connect the tournament with local businesses and the community.
“Everyone had something different they could bring to the table, and together we were able to create something that feels much bigger than a popcorn bag,” Frank said.
The Biltmore Championship Asheville, a PGA TOUR Champions event, was played Sept. 17-20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
