Saint Joseph School students ages 5 to 14 used imagery and words to portray the true meaning of Christmas through the posters they created for a contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
The 11-by-17-inch artwork was judged on how clearly the “Keep Christ in Christmas” message was presented and how effectively the creations captured people’s attention. Many featured images of the holy family, the wise men, angels and shepherds.
The winners among the 5- to 7-year-olds were first-grader Emmy Impellizzeri, first place; first-grader Karsyn Butler, second place; and first-grader Cynthia Nguyen, third place.
The winners for ages 8 to 10 were fourth-grader Alexandra Kithcart, first place; third-grader Lily Soltis, second place; and third-grader Kayden Sadat, third place.
The poster created by sixth-grader Karina Vasyliuk was deemed the best among those submitted by students ages 11 to 14. Second place went to sixth-grader Chana Dinh and third place was awarded to sixth-grader Gwendolyn Mack.
SJS art teacher Jane King judged all of the entries.
The first-place winners received framed certificates and gift cards on Jan. 4 from Jonathan A. Noyalas, a member of Monsignor Lackey Council 1169 of the Knights of Columbus in Martinsburg. Those who placed second and third received ribbons.
The gift cards were donated in memory of Noyalas’ grandfather, Robert Klementovicz, who died in 2008. Klementovicz, born in 1918, was part of the “Greatest Generation” and served in the Pacific during World War II. The son of Polish immigrants, he was devoted to his family and loved children. He was a fan of big-band music and the arts, which Noyalas celebrates with the poster contest prizes.
The posters by the first-place winners will be judged at the district level.