Almost as good as having your name written across the sky is having your artwork on 10 tall billboards peppered around the county—and on the outside of a Pierce Transit bus. That is exactly where Melissa Wells, a fourth grader in Christine Koukles’ class at Lister Elementary School, can see her winning entry in the Pierce County Auditor’s Voting is Cool poster contest. Melissa’s poster was also printed in 320,527 voters’ general election pamphlets distributed to Pierce County households.
A large poster of Melissa’s artwork was unveiled Oct. 13 at a special schoolwide assembly at Lister, with numerous dignitaries attending. The poster contest gives students in kindergarten through sixth grade the opportunity to illustrate what voting means to them. Students were asked to imagine they were old enough to vote. Then they were asked to dream up something they would vote for that would make the world a better place or show how they will feel when they vote for something they really believe in. History is full of many examples of famous elections won by simply one vote, according to the Pierce County Auditor’s Web site.
The Puyallup New Car Dealers Association selected the winning poster based on how creatively the theme was presented and how well it promoted the value of being a good citizen and encouraged people to vote. The association has partnered with the Pierce County Auditor’s Office and the Washington State Auto Dealers’ Association to sponsor the poster contest for several years. Josh Larson, president of the association, unveiled the winning poster, presented Melissa with a certificate and announced the other prizes, including a pizza party for the entire school.
At the assembly, Latasha Wortham from Congressman Norm Dicks’ office presented a new American flag to Lister Principal Ray Maltos. Ian Morrison from Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office presented the school with a state proclamation and a Washington state flag.
Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma presented Melissa with a recognition certificate with the seal of the city. Superintendent Art Jarvis read a “Youth Voting Awareness Week” proclamation. Lind Simonsen, public relations director for Pierce Transit, announced that the bus with Melissa’s poster on the back was parked outside the school and students could tour the bus following the assembly.
Not many fourth graders can say they started a week off with representatives from a Congressman’s office and the governor’s office, the mayor and superintendent—and many others—congratulating them for being the grand prize winner in a Voting is Cool poster contest.
Notes:
The Tacoma Public Schools participates in the Pierce County Auditor’s education program, Voting is Cool, which emphasizes the importance of voting in America and gives students in kindergarten through sixth grade the opportunity to learn about and experience the voting process. In the past eight years, more than 90,000 students have participated in the program, which fulfills the state and federal mandates for voter education for youth.