TRACY — There were so many people at the Wheels Across the Prairie Heritage Center Building on Wednesday that benches from outside had to be brought in just to have enough space to seat everyone.

The audience waited eagerly to hear who would be the winner of America’s 250th Poster Contest Wednesday, and get pictures of their children with their art.

Two weeks prior, students at the Tracy area public schools created art and posters in celebration of America’s anniversary. The Tracy community invited the public to attend the student award ceremony, where the house displayed the students’ art. Cookie Cooreman, the host of the award ceremony, planned much of the event, and initially came up with the idea.

“The whole project has been about our young people and this community.” Cooreman said.

As Anjay Vang went up to receive his picture and third place award. His friends shot out of their seat screaming in his celebration.

The winners were split into three categories — fourth through 12th grade. The top three in each category had their art made into a banner, which will be displayed across town.

The winners also received a cash prize. Third place in each category receiving $50, second receiving $75, and first receiving $100. Selected between all the first place winners of the respective age groups was an overall winner, who won $200 dollars.

As the winners were announced, the packed room clapped for everyone. As ninth grader Anjay Vang came up for his award and picture, his friends stood up screaming in celebration.

Second place for the tenth 11th and 12th category. Emma Carter shared her vision for her art that led her to winning second place and a $75 prize.

“The bald eagle, we the people, the golden gate bridge, I figured that I might as well incorporate all of the things that the US is about.” Carter said. “A little bit of everything.”

Ninth grader Keinna Xiong was awarded first in the seventh-ninth grade category for her shading and size of the statue of liberty.

Natalie Illg in 11th grade came through as the night’s big winner. She used alcohol markers for the shading of her statue of liberty. She has already invested her winnings toward continuing her art business. She spend her winnings on an iPad, so she can work on art digitally. Illg works on most of her art as a hobby, and has a website — natalieillg.carrd.co — where she offers to commission artwork and sell her pieces.

“I appreciate them having an art competition, because it’s very rare that Tracey has anything for me to compete in like this.” Illg said.

After the event, the Tracy community brought an ice cream truck from Lingen Dairy, which gave the attendees a selection of free ice cream to chose from as some stayed to chat with others and explore the museum.

Natalie Illg took the tenth through 12th grade competition as well as the overall winner.