Catholic school students’ artwork in Kid Safety Calendar
By KATHY SCHMUGGE
COLUMBIA — First Lady Jenny Sanford, honorary chair of the S.C. Safe
Kids Coalition, unveiled the 2004 Kid Safety Calendar in December. Thousands
of entries were judged by the 2003 S.C. Safe Kids Board of Directors, and
13 illustrations were chosen for the calendar. Two of the 13 winners were
students attending Catholic schools.
“Each school could send three entries for grades 1-6,” said Eve Stacey,
one of the judges. Stacy, an attorney with Rogers Townsend & Thomas, said
that the judges “looked for good illustrations of the safety message, done
in a meaningful and unique way that young people could relate to.”
Joe Pinner from WIS-TV was the emcee for the awards ceremony and announced
the names as Sanford handed out the plaques and $100 gift certificates from
Wal-Mart.
Art teacher Jerri Bautler of St. Francis School in Hilton Head wasn’t
surprised that Patrick Poland, one of her sixth-grade students, won an award.
She has found Patrick to be a creative thinker.
Poland picked the topic of electrical safety because it is a common problem,
especially around the holidays with Christmas lights.
Jacob Kozacki, a fifth-grader from St. Anthony School in Florence, said it
felt good to have his work recognized by the state. “It made me want
to continue drawing,” said Jacob. His artwork showed a father assisting his
son with fireworks.
Dr. Thomas Gibbons, chairman of the S.C. Safe Kids Coalition, congratulated
all the winners. “While these children were working on this project they
were thinking about safety, and when others look at their artwork, it could
make a difference in the state,” said Gibbons. He added that 900,000 copies
of the calendar will be distributed to schools, pediatric offices and hospitals.
Published Jan. 8, 2004
The Catholic Miscellany