12/20/07
Annual Rec. Dept. Christmas card contest nets most entries ever
By Eric Goold

ERIC GOOLD/Manning Times

Award winners in the Recreation Department’s annual Christmas card contest hold up their artwork and ribbons last Wednesday afternoon. Pictured from left to right are Dy’Mond Gipson, first-place winner Hailey Pifer, Benjamin Corbett and Elizabeth White. Not pictured: Makayla Johnon, Honorable Mention from SECC.

Clarendon Hall second grader Hailey Pifer won the fifth annual Christmas card contest sponsored by the Clarendon County Recreation Department.

The contest was held for Clarendon art students in kindergarten through the third grade. Children created artwork that reflects the Christmas season, and sent their artwork to the contest judges.

Four honorable mentions and one winner were selected, with the winner being used as the Christmas card for the Rec. Dept.

Pifer selected a traditional Christmas scene for her drawing with colored pencils.

“I thought of a snowman in the snow,” said Pifer. “Then I put in a bunch of Christmas trees around him. That was kind of my idea for it.”

Pifer said that she enjoys her art classes and has always liked drawing.

“I like drawing with my Nana,” she said.

Pifer’s work will grace the cover of the Recreation Department Christmas card, which is sent to recreation departments in counties throughout the state, around the country and also around the world.

The Clarendon County Development Board helps sponsor the contest and also uses the card in some of its functions.

Arlen Gackstatter, a secretary at the Recreation Department, helps organize the annual contest and is one of the judges.

“We had quite a few entries this year,” said Gackstattter at the award ceremony last Wednesday afternoon. “It was the most entries we’ve ever had.”

In 2003 when the contest began, there were 22 entries. This year the contest judges had to choose between 191 entries. The contest has been such an overwhelming success, in fact, that other counties haven taken notice.

“We’ve seen some other cities and towns take up the idea,” said Gackstatter. “That’s so neat. You start up something that’s just a little thing and people like it so much they want to do it too.”

Pifer received a blue ribbon, a $25 gift certificate to Wal-Mart, five copies of the Recreation Department Christmas card and a nice frame for her artwork for winning the contest.

Four honorable mentions were also selected, and their prize was a green ribbon and a $5 gift certificate to Wal-Mart.

Pifer completed her work in Tammy Cogdill’s art class at Clarendon Hall. Fellow classmate Benjamin Corbett won honorable mention for his picture of Santa in a sleigh, complete with the nice Southern touch of a hedgehog looking on.

Dy’Mond Gipson, a first grader from the Manning Early Childhood Center, won honorable mention with her colorful display.

Elizabeth White, also a first grader from the Manning Early Childhood Center, earned honorable mention with her picture of a Christmas tree beneath a rainbow.

“It was a great year for the contest,” said Gackstatter. “Children of these ages love to participate and always come up with such creative artwork. It was a real challenge picking the best one because they were all so good!”