Vote to Support our High School Art Students
October 30, 2025
Public Voting Opens November 3–7 for National Crosley Custom Cruiser Contest
Our high school art students turned the iconic Crosley Cruiser Record Player into a unique work of art for the nationwide Crosley Custom Cruiser Contest, joining more than 200 high schools across the country in the competition. Support our students by voting for their record player design from November 3–7.
How to Vote (Nov 3-7)
Regional winners determined by public vote will move forward to the national judging round. Then, a Crosley panel will evaluate creativity, craftsmanship, and thematic storytelling to select the Grand Prize Winner.
High School Art Teacher Zane Vredenburg had this to say, "Crosley Radio had an open invite to art departments nationwide to participate in their national design competition: The Crosley Custom Cruiser Contest. We entered and were selected to participate alongside with 250 other schools nationwide. They asked students to design a Cruiser that captures the theme - Band Together. How does music bring people together — across genres, cultures, and lived experiences? How can a beat, a lyric, a sound become a safe space, a shared emotion, a common chord?"
The student were asked to submit a statement about their piece.
"We decided to cover the record player with custom stickers that each show a musician who has used their fame to help others. These artists have “Banded Together” people and communities by supporting charities, creating their own charities, raising awareness, or donating money to causes that make a difference. When you look at the record player, all the stickers come together to form one big “band” of people using their gifts for good.
We also wanted to show that same idea in how we worked on the project. High school students from all grade levels had a part in it. Some drew the designs, others did the research on musicians, and some put the final touches on the record player itself. It turned into a true team effort where everyone added something.
In the end, our piece is about unity, creativity, and kindness. Just like a real band relies on each of its members' gifts and talents to compose music, our project shows that great things happen when people come together for a common goal. “Banding Together” isn’t just a theme, it’s what we actually did."
Student participants include: Skyler VanDerPol, Teo Crull, Reagan Zevenbergen, Anna Quist, Joleen Denton, Naomi VerSteeg, Olivia Hopkins, Dana Bender, Zoey Quist, Izzie Jerome, Brynn Manley, Adrianna Bruxvoort, Kenniasty Carstensen, Haven Harden, Shelby Smith, Skyler Ruisch, and Avery Collins.
About the Contest
Originally piloted in Kentucky in 2024, the Custom Cruiser Contest has expanded to a national initiative supporting art classrooms across the United States. Crosley sent participating schools a Cruiser Record Player on which they could draw, paint, or more to create a design the world has never seen before. The schools get to keep the record player along with donated vinyl. This year’s theme, “Band Together,” encourages students to interpret unity, collaboration, culture,and the power of music in their own visual styles.
Each school submitted:
- 7 images of their customized Crosley Cruiser turntable
- A short design statement explaining their inspiration
The contest promotes hands-on creativity and supports the arts at a time when many school programs face limited funding. It also encourages students to see music not just as entertainment,but as something that brings people together.
“Getting vinyl into the hands of the next generation isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about giving students a tangible, tactile connection to music,” said Andrea Wellkamp, VP of Product Development and Merchandising at Crosley. “There’s something powerful about holding a record, placing the needle, and really listening. It teaches patience, care, and shared experience. These students aren’t just creating art, they’re becoming part of music culture in a real and meaningful way.”
“We wanted this contest to encourage communities to come together to lift up young artists,”said Keith Starr, President of Crosley. “When people vote, they’re not just choosing a design,they’re showing students that their creativity matters.”
Prizes
- Grand Prize: $2,500 for the school’s art program + up to 25 Cruiser Record Players for the participating students
- 2nd – 5th Place: $500 for the school’s art program
- Best Social Media Video: $500 for the school’s art program + up to 25 Cruiser Record Players for the participating students
About Crosley Radio
Crosley Radio is a leading innovator in the record player industry, recognized for its blend of retro designs with modern technology. With a rich history dating back to 1921, Crosley Radio continues to be a trailblazer in audio technology as one of the largest record player manufacturers to date.