Balloon Fiesta® Announces Winner of Balloons Aloft Pin Contest

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® is excited to announce the winners of its pin design contest. Luna Perez Carpio from Petroglyph Elementary School (Ms. Nancy Matthews) beat out more than 80 other students from across the state. Her design, pictured below, will become the official Balloons Aloft pin for the 54^th ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, taking place Oct. 3-11.

“Balloons Aloft has been a long-standing tradition of bringing Balloon Fiesta and the sport of ballooning to students across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho,” said Balloon Fiesta Community and Education Outreach Manager Tracey Hawkins. “This contest gives students from all across the state the opportunity to be a part of Balloon Fiesta in a new, creative way.”

The contest, open to all fifth-grade students in New Mexico, received more than 80 submissions. Balloon Fiesta officials selected the top five designs and the remaining four will be made into stickers available in the Balloon Discovery Center at this year’s Balloon Fiesta. The runners-up are:

• Jacob Jaramillo from Collet Park Elementary (Ms. Jill Lingenfelter)
• Alina Anaya-Garcia from Martin Luther King Elementary (Ms. Lori LaBarre)
• Xander Wolfram from Stapleton Elementary School (Ms. Denise Naranjo)
• Leona “L.C.” Hurford from Petroglyph Elementary School (Ms. Nancy Matthews)

“Giving our students the opportunity to be a part of Balloon Fiesta solidifies our commitment to community,” said Balloon Fiesta Executive Director Julie Morgas Baca. “Luna’s pin design will be a permanent part of the 54^th event, and we can’t wait to see it come to life!”

All five winning designs, and the students who produced them, will be recognized at the Albuquerque Public Schools “Art is Elementary” art show on Feb. 24.

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About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

The ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta^® is an annual festival of hot air balloons that takes place every October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. For details on events, schedule, and entertainment, visit our website and BalloonFiesta.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, or TikTok.