The Skillman Foundation

• Lyric Weathers was named grand prize winner out of hundreds of entries in the 34th Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest at the Parade Company
• Her “Cultures are Around the World” float design built by the Parade Company will debut in America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White Nov. 27
• Five amazing Detroit students in grades 4-8, who submitted float designs were also recognized with Honorable Mentions at today’s event

Detroit fifth-grader Lyric Weathers was named the grand prize winner in The Skillman Foundation’s 34^th Float Design Contest today at a special unveiling event at the Parade Company in Detroit attended by students, parents and educators from the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Images are available here.

Weathers’ float design, titled “Cultures are Around the World,” was chosen from hundreds of submissions, then handed off to the Parade Company artists to build into a full-scale float that will make its way down Woodward Ave. during the 99^th America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White with Lyric and her family aboard her creative endeavor brought to life.

Left to right: Parade Company staff (3), Malia Vang, Axel Coyte, President & CEO, Angelique Power (top), Lyric Weathers (bottom), Austin Callahan, Vice President of Program, Sarida Scott, Robyn McKee, and Ava Wyatt.

The partnership between The Skillman Foundation and the Parade Company encouraged students grades 4-8 in any Detroit public or charter school to illustrate this year’s contest theme of “My Dream for the World” in a creative and meaningful way.

“What makes this tradition special is the way it highlights the voices and visions of our young people,” said Sarida Scott, vice president of program at The Skillman Foundation. “Their ideas and artistry remind us that the future isn’t something distant, it’s being shaped right now by their creativity and determination.”

“There is nothing more amazing than seeing the reactions of everyone in attendance when we took the wraps off this beautiful float for the first time,” said Tony Michaels, President and CEO of the Parade Company. “This is an event that every year inspires and reminds all of us of the power of creativity and how it makes the world a better place and we try and live that every day at the Parade Company.”

Lyric, a fifth grader at Schulze Academy for Technology & Arts, used her skill and creativity to create her “Cultures are Around the World” illustration that Parade Company artists spent countless hours turning into a full-size float building it from scratch using wood, wire, paint and passion to ensure the finished product represented the beautiful artwork. The float was unveiled for the first time in public today to the artist, family members, school faculty and special guests including five additional Detroit students recognized as Honorable Mention winners. The honorable mention winners’ designs are featured on the skirt of the float to recognize their amazing work.

2025 Honorable Mention Winners

• Austin Callahan, 5^th grade
  • School: University Prep Art & Design Elementary School
  • Teacher: Miss Rachel Theis
  • Design title: “A Dream for the World”

• Axel Coyte, 5^th grade
  • School: Charles H. Wright Academy
  • Teacher: Mr. Rashaun Rucker
  • Design title: “Be Happy”

• Robyn McKee, 5^th grade
  • School: University Prep Art & Design Elementary School
  • Teacher: Miss Rachel Theis
  • Design title: “Always be Community”

• Malia Vang, 8^th grade
  • School: Fisher Magnet Upper Academy
  • Teacher: Mr. John Baker
  • Design title: “My Dream for the World”

• Ava Wyatt, 6^th grade
  • School: Spain Elementary-Middle School
  • Teacher: Miss Amanda Coffee
  • Design title: “Don’t Judge People”

Voted as America’s Number One Holiday Parade by USA TODAY, America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White takes place on Thursday, November 27. The 99th America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White will awe generations of parade-goers on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit with amazing floats, larger than life balloons towering the skyline, celebrities, famous clowns and Big Heads, marching bands and so much more. This year’s parade theme is “Thanksgiving is Better in Detroit!” and the parade is broadcast live on WDIV Local 4 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and nationally to millions of viewers across 185 major cities in the U.S. 760 WJR and Audacy WOMC 104.3 also broadcast parade shows. For more information, visit theparade.org.