Imaginations transform trash into ornaments
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on November 21, 2004 2:03 AM
More than 150 kids turned trash into treasure last week for Keep Wayne County Beautiful's annual recycled ornament contest.
"Each year the kids get more and more creative," said Simonne Cato. "Their imaginations are wonderful."
Ms. Cato is the director of Keep Wayne County Beautiful, the sponsor for the event.
Though the ornaments hung on the mall Christmas tree may look slightly familiar, it's not entirely due to their holiday theme.
Soda cans, juice bottles, light bulbs, paper, bottle caps and pop tops were transformed into holiday works of art during the contest.
Some kids even used magnolia leaves, okra pods, plastic spoons and old socks to craft creative ornaments.
"It's so tough to judge," said Ms. Cato.
She said the ones who used the most recycled material in the most creative ways won prizes.
Ms. Cato pointed to the first place winner for high school students, which was an origami figure made by Daniel Mathias.
"It's a very simple little figure," she said, "but everything he used, from candy wrappers to other paper, are things that would have been thrown away. The hook is even a bread tie."
Grete Majerlie, the first place winner for the middle school students, used a film canister, earrings and keys to make a deer.
Everyone received a certificate of appreciation.
First-place winners won $50, second place $25 and third place winners, $10.
This year's winners were as follows:
*High school -- first place: Daniel Mathias from Spring Creek High School; second place, Margo Sauter, Spring Creek High School; and third place tie, Tiffany Breindel, Eastern Wayne High School, and Casey Walston, Spring Creek High School.
*Middle School -- first place, Grete Majerlie, Grantham; second place, Hanna Hall, Spring Creek; third place, Lindsay Stutts, home school.
*Elementary -- first place, Jacob Ballance, Fremont Stars; second place, Katie Kimble, Northeast Elementary; and Taylor Phillips, Northeast Elementary.