An Astoria student has been chosen as a finalist in the 2026 American Kennel Club (AKC) Meet the Breeds Art Contest, a New York City-wide competition recognizing young artists in grades K–12 hosted by AKC Public Education. “I also know that people have different feelings about her presence outside the ballpark, which made her an interesting subject for my artwork.”The AKC Meet the Breeds contest introduces hundreds of breeds along with their owners. Finalist artwork will be on display at the AKC Public Education Booth throughout the event on Feb. 7-8 at the Javits Center. The nonprofit group is based in Astoria and dedicated to empowering students through youth-led contests, volunteer projects and literacy programs. “Alice’s artwork is a wonderful example of how young people use creativity to tell local stories,” said Ted Psahos.