More than 400 elementary school students from Bulloch County entered the America—Where Eagles Soar coloring contest. The winners were announced and presented with awards yesterday at a reception held at Sea Island Bank.
     Sponsored by Sea Island Bank and the Statesboro Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department, the contest was created to give children an opportunity to display their patriotism through art.
    The overall winner of the contest was fifth-grader MiKayla Crawford from Nevils Elementary School. In addition to winning $100, MiKayla won a Sea Island Bank t-shirt and four passes to Splash in the ‘Boro waterpark. MiKayla’s patriotic drawing is currently on display on a billboard outside of Sea Island Bank on Main Street and will be featured on t-shirts celebrating the 2007 Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek Park.
    MiKayla says she was excited to win the art contest and says that she hopes to one day become an art teacher. “Kids should know what art is about. Everyday you see art, even when you don’t know it’s art!” the fifth grader explains.
    The overall second place winner was 9 year-old Alexandra Littles. The 3rd grader from Mattie Lively Elementary School won $50, a Sea Island Bank t-shirt and one pass to Splash in the ‘Boro. Alexandra said her favorite art project is coloring things like birds, flags and fireworks.
    The overall third place winner was Jacob Ferrell, a 1st grader at Mill Creek Elementary School. He won $25, a Sea Island Bank t-shirt and one pass to Splash in the ‘Boro.
    A first, second and third place winner were also chosen from each grade, kindergarten through fifth grade. There were also prizes awarded to the student who produced the most colorful, most patriotic and most creative drawing from each grade.
    All of the winning drawings are currently on display at the Averitt Center for the Arts.
The 14th Annual Firecracker Fest will be on Wednesday, July 4, from 4-11 p.m. at Mill Creek Park in Statesboro. The celebration will include children’s games, community exhibitions, music, fireworks and other activities for the whole family. For more information on this event, please visit www.BullochRec.com.

All winners of the contest
July 4th Coloring Contest Winners
Place    Name    School

 Kindergarten               
1st     Caroline Mitchell    Brooklet Elem.
2nd    Madisyn Dosier    Portal Elem.
3rd    Calton Bishop    Portal Elem.
Most Colorful    Allison Martin    Julia P. Bryant Elem.
Most Patriotic    Madeline Cowart    Bulloch Academy
Most Creative    Betty Newton    Julia P. Bryant Elem.

 First Grade               
3rd Place Best Overall
1st     Jacob Ferrell    Mill Creek Elem.
2nd    Shekinah Smith    Mill Creek Elem.
3rd    Dylan Hoshauer    Nevils Elem.
Most Colorful    Anna Kowalczyk    Nevils Elem.
Most Patriotic    Skyler Shuman    Nevils Elem.
Most Creative    Derek Charleton    Nevils Elem.

 Second Grade               
1st     Brandon Freeland    Mill Creek Elem.
2nd    Jessica Deloach    Portal Elem.
3rd    Torri Merritt    Mattie Lively Elem.
Most Colorful    Jameson Orvis    Sallie Zetterower
Most Patriotic    Dajaun Newton    Mill Creek Elem.
Most Creative    Jenny Heller    Brooklet Elem.

 Third Grade       
1st     Austin Jones    Julia P. Bryant Elem.
2nd    Kera Olsen    Brooklet Elem.
3rd    Nella Williams    Nevils Elem.
2nd Place Best Overall
Most Colorful    Alexandra Littles    Mattie Lively Elem.
Most Patriotic    Darcy Downie    Stilson Elem.
Most Creative    Abby Carlisle    Mattie Lively Elem.

 Fourth Grade               
1st     Samantha Goodman    Nevils Elem.
2nd    David Lee Moore    Mill Creek Elem.
3rd    Rachel Mizell    Julia P. Bryant Elem.
Most Colorful    Destiney McMillan    Mill Creek Elem.
Most Patriotic    Kaitlin Van Ryswyk    Mill Creek Elem.
Most Creative    Shelby McDonald    Stilson Elem.

 Fifth Grade               
1st Place Best Overall
1st     Mikayla Crawford    Nevils Elem.
2nd    Jamie Hendrix    Nevils Elem.
3rd    Laura Brazeau    Mattie Lively Elem.
Most Colorful    Trisha Mitra    Julia P. Bryant Elem.
Most Patriotic    Annalycia Liston-Beck    Sallie Zetterower
Most Creative    Marshaye Pryor    Portal Elem.