APPLETON, Wis. Consolidated Construction Company, Inc. has announced Emily Bakey, a senior at Xavier High School in Appleton, as the winner of its inaugural Consolidated for a Cause Student Art Contest. Bakey’s artwork was selected through an employee vote and will serve as the visual identity for the 2026 campaign benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Emily’s winning 3-Dimensional artwork will serve as the visual identity of the 2026 Consolidated for a Cause campaign. The artwork will feature event signage, digital content, apparel, and promotional materials leading up to the event. Additionally, the artwork will directly help raise money as it will be auctioned at the companies’ annual March fundraiser.
“As a committee, one of our goals coming out of last year’s campaign was to take Consolidated for a Cause a step further into our community,” said Michelle Rueckl, Vice President of Human Resources at Consolidated Construction. “By involving talented local students, we’re able to give artists like Emily a meaningful, real-world portfolio opportunity while also creating a unique visual identity for each campaign. Her artwork adds another layer of impact and will help us raise awareness and grow the support that we provide to the National MS Society.”
Emily’s piece, titled “We Rise,” uses powerful symbolism to reflect the themes of resilience, hope, and community. At the center of the artwork is a phoenix rising from the ashes, representing the daily determination of individuals living with multiple sclerosis and those who support them. A sunrise behind the phoenix symbolizes new hope and fresh beginnings, while each feather represents a unique individual experiencing different struggles coming together as one strong community.
Text featured along the wings further emphasizes this unity. Phrases such as “We fight” and “We overcome” represent those living with MS, while “We invent,” “We treat,” and “We walk” honor the researchers, doctors, and volunteers working toward better treatments and a cure. The phoenix holds a lotus flower symbolizing health and emerging from struggle, and healthy neurons appear throughout the piece to represent healing. An orange MS awareness ribbon and recurring orange tones reinforce the cause, while the phrase “We Cure” anchors the artwork, representing the goal of the National MS Society.
“Together, we are stronger,” Emily shared in her artist statement. “This piece brings awareness to those who struggle with MS and those who help them, while inspiring unity, action, and hope for a cure.”
The Student Art Contest was launched earlier this year, and Consolidated Construction Company plans to continue the contest in future years to spotlight local student talent while supporting meaningful causes.
Community members are encouraged to join Consolidated Construction in supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Donations help fund research, advocacy, and support for those affected by MS.
To contribute, visit: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/teams/consolidatedforacause
