Lukancic Student's Political Cartoon Draws Recognition from the White House

Thanks to eighth-grader Louis Lucas, is now on President Barack Obama’s radar.

Lucas, who drew a political cartoon depicting the president as “the champ” for a classroom assignment in seventh-grade social studies last spring, had no idea Lukancic teacher Kathy Ydnekew was going to send the cartoon to the White House. But he’s happy she did because now he’s in possession of an autographed photo of the president, as well as a letter thanking his class for contacting him.

“I thought it was the best political cartoon anyone in my classes has done,” said Ydnekew, who has been including the interpretation and creation of political cartoons in her teaching curriculum for three years. “So I sent it to the White House.”

“I wanted to show President Obama is good at politics,” Lucas said, adding he was inspired by the news reports surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden, which had just occurred.

The cartoon depicted the president wearing boxing shorts, standing on the ropes of a boxing ring. In his hands, which are proudly stretched above his head, he held the heavyweight championship belt and he had a big smile.

Lucas is an outstanding artist, according to Ydnekew who admits she “would give out more art-related assignments in class just so I could see Loius’ work.”

With a possible career as a comic book artist in mind, perhaps Lucas will be able to list the President as a reference.

“I’m proud,” he said.

“We’ll do the project again this year,” Ydnekew added.