MIDDLEBURG – Thousands of drivers who venture on Blanding Boulevard every day will see a Tynes Elementary’s student’s creation.

A billboard sandwiched between Maaco Auto Paint and Collision Repair and a SunTrust Bank showcases fifth-grader Emily Phipps’ winning art from Clay Humane’s annual contest in which kids try to educate pet owners about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

Phipps’ winning entry, a dog with a floaty, and the message “Beat the heat,” will be on the billboard. Phipps received $100 and four tickets to SeaWorld.

She said it felt cool to win the contest and she thought her design was funny.

“I’m surprised I won,” Phipps said, before she thanked the Clay Humane, which runs a low-cost nonprofit animal clinic near Orange Park.

School administrators, teachers and students cheered as Clay Humane’s Executive Director Linda Welzant presented Phipps the check Tuesday.

“As a part of our ongoing mission to foster humane attitudes through education, the Society brought its annual poster contest to Clay County Schools,” Welzant said.

Phipps’ father Andrew, who is stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, applauds Emily’s win.

“She did a good job,” said Andrew Phipps. “She deserves everything she gets.”

More than 800 fifth graders across multiple schools participated in the contest. Second place went to RideOut Elementary’s Rylie Mason and Chloe Toney, who also attends RideOut, won third place.

“We had a lot of super duper entries, it was very difficult to decide three winners for the grade level,” fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Warren said. “Don’t forget why we entered the competition, that spaying and neutering our animals is so important.”

Tynes’ Principal Laura Fogarty said the contest is an excellent chance for students to bring attention to the importance of spaying and neutering animals. Clay Humane offers free spay and neuter services, as well as urgent pet care and surgeries at a low cost. “Spay it Forward” is the organization’s slogan on the issue.

“The fact that she gets to have a billboard on Blanding is an incredible opportunity, probably a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Fogarty said. “She’s a very creative student, is very intelligent and always thinks outside the box. I was glad those talents were able to be recognized.”

Clay Humane’s clinic has neutered over 96,000 animals since 1991, the organization claims. According to Clay Humane, most offspring of unneutered pets end up overburdening shelters or become homeless.

More information about spaying and neutering pets can be found at clayhumane.org/spay-or-neuter.php.