Eric Tew, the graphics communications teacher at DCIT, explains how students at the school created a holiday card from Claire Smith’s painting. Smith’s teacher, Rita Szigeti, looks on.
Claire Smith, winner of the Darlington County School District’s 2018 Holiday Card Art Contest, got a chance to tour the Darlington County Institute of Technology’s (DCIT) graphics communications lab last week. Students at DCIT transformed Smith’s painting of a cheerful reindeer into 1,500 official holiday cards for the school district.
Eric Tew, graphics communications teacher at DCIT, gave Smith a tour of the graphics facilities at the school before introducing her to the students who made the holiday cards possible. Tew and DCIT also gifted Smith several items that featured her painting, including a mouse pad, coffee mug and cards of her own.
Each school in the district, along with each district administrative office, received a pack of the holiday cards.
Students in grades K-2 participated in the annual Holiday Card Art Contest, which rotates grade levels each year.
Each school participating submitted one finalist’s artwork, and then district staff voted on a winner. Smith, a first-grader at Carolina Elementary School, will receive $50 and a certificate for her winning work, while her art teacher, Rita Szigeti, will receive $100 for art supplies at her school.
Eight other finalists were selected for this year’s competition. They are Charlie Davis, First Grade, Cain Elementary School; Derrika Graham, Second Grade, Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School; Neleh James, 5K, Pate Elementary School; McKenzie King, First Grade, Thornwell School for the Arts; Emmalin Rae Melton, Second Grade, Washington Street Elementary School; Artez Steele, Second Grade, St. John’s Elementary School; Kathryn “Lizzy” Steen, Second Grade, North Hartsville Elementary School; Journey Thomas, Second Grade, Lamar Elementary School.
