Artsy for Autism Awareness Students celebrated at festival in Cecil County

ELKTON, Md. — He first picked up a guitar two years ago, and now, Justin Leon has mastered a piece by Metallica.

“I just started trying to teach myself how to play and it’s just gotten a little bit better from there,” said Leon.

14-year-old Katie Betrond of Perryville gains her strength through song.

“I am one of those people who struggle with depression, anxiety and a load of other things,” Betrond told us, “When Em Beihold created that song, I was like, ‘This is a door opener. I see that I’m not the only one who has these issues.”

Students grabbed the spotlight at the Elkton Neighborhood Community Center with the return of the High Road Schools’ Autism Awareness Fine Art Festival.

The students participating in the festival range from the fourth grade all the way up to the twelfth grade and they represent the Mid-Atlantic Region encompassing both Maryland and Delaware.