After receiving a record number of 60 submissions, the San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture and the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commission on Jan. 2 announced that high school student Shelby Henderson’s artwork titled “No Matter Race Everyone is Equal” won the commission’s eighth annual citywide art contest.

According to a news release, Henderson’s entry will be used as the visual representation of the 36th MLK Jr. March and Celebration on Jan. 16. An official unveiling and dedication of the artwork will take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 in the City Hall briefing room.

Henderson said she is honored and grateful to have the opportunity to showcase her artwork and visually express the meaning of everyone being equal, no matter what race.

“For inspiration I looked to the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which to me expressed his want for change, his want for rights for people that should already have their God-given rights,” Henderson said in a statement.

Henderson, a 15-year-old student at IDEA Burke College Prep, created her digital artwork using computer graphics. The artwork was selected by a panel based on its concept, artistic imagery, visual presentation and originality, the release said.

District 2 Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez said the MLK Jr. art contest gives residents an opportunity to celebrate the talent of young people across the city.

“As an educator, this is one of my favorite times of year because I get to experience the results of our students' creativity," McKee-Rodriguez said. "Students submitted artwork in various mediums, and we were blown away by how beautiful and unique each piece was. We are so proud of what Shelby managed to accomplish and are expecting a very bright and artistic future for her."

San Antonio’s MLK Jr. march, the largest in the nation, begins at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King Drive, and ends at Pittman-Sullivan Park, 1101 Iowa St. The parade is followed by a park celebration that will include a main stage with multicultural performances, a health and wellness area, a youth area, food, and merchandise vendors and information booths, city officials said.