MANSFIELD – Eleven Richland County students have been selected as winners of the 23rd annual Richland County Third Grade Coloring Contest. The event is sponsored by Richland Newhope as part of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March. This year’s statewide theme is “What’s Your Story?”
Richland County schools with third grade classes were invited to participate in the contest. Participants this year were asked to color a picture featuring three children playing basketball, one of whom uses a wheelchair.
Newhope received 517 entries from 11 schools. One winner was chosen from each school. Ashley Wurth, an artist and employee at Element of Art Studio/Gallery, assisted with the selection of this year’s winners.
“We are so pleased that many of our Richland County elementary schools continue to participate in this annual contest,” said Richland Newhope Community Relations Director Jane Imbody. “It gives us an opportunity to reach young people with our awareness message and to foster long-term acceptance and full integration of individuals with disabilities in our communities.”
The winners, their parents, teacher, principal, and superintendent have been invited to a pizza party at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4, at Newhope’s Early Childhood Center, 255 Hedges Street.
Special guests will be Miss Ohio 2015 Sarah Hider and Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2015 Jasmine Spradley. Shelby Mayor Steven Schag will present his city’s proclamation. The children will also have an opportunity to participate in simulated disability activities.
This year’s coloring contest winners are: Luke Baker, Auburn Elementary; Jillian Miller, Central Elementary; Mia Humrichouser, Crestview Elementary; Lindsay Montgomery, Dowds Elementary; Hailey Cole, Eastview Elementary; Taylor Weaver, John Sherman Elementary; Jessica Hecht, Madison South Elementary; Addie King, Mansfield Christian School; Allie Vogt, Sacred Heart School; Adler Hatfield, St. Peter’s Elementary; and Isabelle Thatcher, Woodland Elementary.
Each of the winners will receive a certificate, two pencils, a pen, a cut-out crayon, three coloring books and crayons, a ruler, an eraser shaped like a crayon, a button and a magnet designed by a Newhope individual, a plush crayon, a folder filled with disability awareness activity pages, an American Sign Language “I Love You” sucker, two friendship bracelets, and a photograph taken with Miss Ohio and Ms. Wheelchair Ohio.
Each child also receives an awareness poster for their school.
In 2015, Richland Newhope (Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities) supported more than 1,800 individuals through early intervention, preschool, adult, residential, therapy, transportation, and other family support programs.
