MANSFIELD – Frida Rojas Martinez, a third-grade student at the Mansfield Spanish Immersion School, won this year’s Richland County Children Services 5th Annual Billboard and Calendar contest.
This marks the second year in a row a student from Spanish Immersion has won the top prize. Frida is the daughter of Diego Rojas and Liliana Martinez.
The contest is open to third grade students in Richland County and is sponsored by Richland County Children Services as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The theme of this year’s contest was “A Safe, Supportive, Loving Family – What Does It Look Like to You?” RCCS employees judged more than 130 entries from third grade classes in Richland County who were invited to participate in the contest.
“Richland County Children Services has a need for foster parents and we wanted to get the message out to our county. The opportunity to have a youth draw a picture that represents their view of a safe and loving family is a perfect fit. The theme reflects on what makes their own families special and the diversity of families within our community,” said Tim Harless, Director of Community Outreach and Programming.
RCCS surprised Frida with a plaque and a pizza party for her classmates Thursday afternoon at the school. Frida is the daughter of Liliana Martinez. Frida’s drawing will be featured on a billboard within Richland County as well as in the agency’s 2018-2019 calendar.
This year the agency decided to have the second and third place winners also appear on a billboard for Foster Care and Kinship Care. The second-place winner was Ellie Powell and the third-place winner was Tucker Keetle, both students from Mifflin Elementary School. Ellie received a $50 gift card and a plaque and Tyler received a $25 gift card and a plaque.
Frida, Ellie and Tyler’s drawings will appear in the agency’s 2018-2019 calendar along with the following students earning the next highest vote totals: Michelle Hope, Mansfield Christian; Rowynn McDonald, Mansfield Christian; Tyler Hubbard, Mansfield Spanish Immersion; Lauren Uhde, Mansfield Spanish Immersion; Lee Walter, Mansfield Spanish Immersion; Blake Frederick, Mifflin Elementary; Kambry Bellomy, Plymouth Shiloh Elementary; Lena Kahl, St. Mary’s of the Snows; and Lyndsey Schonauer, Woodland Elementary School. Each of the students will receive a certificate.
The 2018-2019 calendar will be distributed at the RCCS booth during the annual Richland County fair.
Previous winners have come from Lexington, Mansfield Christian and Shelby schools.
