Butterfly Sculpture

City of Laguna Hills KOCE Butterfly Initiative
"There are moments in life when timing, opportunity and momentum are just right and there is a great convergence of energy. During those moments, we sense new opportunities and new possibilities. Today is convergence of energy. Butterfly is the spirit of possibility."

Jaimee C. Niles KOCE
The Butterfly Initiative, developed by Jaimee Niles of KOCE, connects and unites Orange County in a fundraising project for art and science education. The Butterfly Initiative serves as the impetus to create the education endowment. With the reduction of funding for arts and science education, it is the aspiration of KOCE that the endowment provide a sustaining source of funding for important programs. The 1st project, initiating the fundraising effort, was the creation, sale, and design, of 5-foot tall butterfly sculptures to be displayed throughout Orange County.
Butterfly Sculptures
The City of Laguna Hills, having a strong desire to support science and art education, purchased 4 butterfly sculptures to be painted by Laguna Hills school children and displayed throughout the City. The City initiated a Butterfly Design Contest to determine the design of the 4 sculptures. The Design Contest was open to all Laguna Hills public school students and designs were submitted to the City in February. There were 136 submissions representing, Lomarena, San Joaquin, and Valencia Elementary Schools, La Paz and Los Alisos Intermediate Schools, and Laguna Hills High School.

Design Selection
The designs were reviewed by the City of Laguna Hills Parks and Recreation Commission. The Commission selected 12 designs which most creatively reflected the science and education theme. The selections forwarded to the City Council for approval included the winning 4 designs, 4 runner-up designs, and 4 honorable mention selections. In addition to the community contest, city staff also facilitated a school competition, selecting winning designs from each school to be recognized by the City Council. The winning designs are artistically displayed for public enjoyment at the Laguna Hills Community Center and Sports Complex.
School Honors
  • Alma Cardenas
  • Annise Pickens
  • Caryn Kubat
  • Erica Rae Vigen
  • Heather Taylor
  • Kristine Vessey
  • Riley Johnson
  • Sharky Taylor
  • Sydney Dychiao
  • Sydney Molinar
  • Xavier Valarino
Final Design Awards
  • Andrew Nguyen
  • McKenzie Perez
  • Priscilla Neuer
  • Sean Tabari
  • Yoko Ueki
Runner-Up Awards
  • Caryn Kubat
  • Erica Rae Vigen
  • Kristine Vessey
  • Sydney Dychiao
  • Xavier Valarino
Honorable Mention Awards
  • Alma Cardenas
  • Ary Nassiri
  • Katelyn Marie Brunner
  • Rachel Bosemer