Winning student Athena Cimafranca stands with teacher Sarah Puglisi, left, and California Strawberry Festival Chairwoman Daisy Tatum. Photo courtesy of the California Strawberry Festival.
Athena Cimafranca, a six-year-old Oxnard resident and first grade student at Julien Hathaway Elementary School, has been declared the winner of the 2011 California Strawberry Festival Youth Art Design Contest, sponsored by Valu Plus Food Warehouse, Festival Chairwoman Daisy Tatum reported on Saturday.
Recognition also goes to standouts in respective grade levels: Ivan Xicohtencati of Sierra Linda School (Kindergarten); Anahi Vasquez of Fred L. Williams Elementary (2nd grade); Jorge Granados of Sunkist Elementary (3rd grade); Brenda Meto of Fred L. Williams (4th grade); Ashley Limon of Sunkist Elementary (5th grade); and Jullianna De La Cruz of Lemonwood Elementary (6th grade). Any student who participated in the contest received a free ticket to the Festival.
Across school districts in Oxnard, Hueneme, and Ocean View, 734 students in grades K-6 submitted entries in what has become a much-anticipated annual tradition among local schools, the festival reported in a media release.
Cimafranca’s winning design boasts a “happy strawberry,” complete with eyelashes, a brimming smile, and high top sneakers. During a special surprise pizza party presentation at her classroom courtesy of the California Strawberry Festival, Cimafranca was honored with a gift certificate of $100 while a $50 gift certificate was awarded to her teacher. She and her entire family will also be esteemed guests of the Festival getting underway May 21 & 22 in Oxnard where her eye-catching design will adorn Youth T-shirt merchandise available at the souvenir tent.
To create the winning masterpiece, Cimafranca used a combination of bright crayons and markers.
“I remember that Athena was especially gloomy on the day of this assignment because her dad who serves in the U.S. Navy, just left for eight weeks of training,” said her teacher Sarah Puglisi “She was missing him already, so I suggested that she draw something cheerful to help lift her spirits.”
As an outreach program, the California Strawberry Festival Youth Art Contest encourages art activities and study plans that salute the celebration and the industry so vital to the area. For the students of Sarah Puglisi’s first grade class, she garnered inspiration from the Festival’s website where she downloaded images of strawberry poster art from the last three decades. Parents brought in strawberries and classroom discussion focused on how the region’s prolific fruit benefits so many in the community.
The 2011 California Strawberry Festival is from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., May 21, 22 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Tickets range from $5 to $12 with event proceeds benefiting more than 40 charities. Free shuttle service from convenient locations off the 101 Freeway make getting there quick and easy. Limited parking is available on site for $10.
Call 1.888.288.9242 or visit www.strawberry-fest.org for more information and advance tickets.
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