This is not the case with the fourth- and fifth-grade students involved in a student enrichment (gifted) program at Waterville Community Elementary School.
Recently, the Bank of Cleveland held its annual “Pumpkin Painting” contest. Both city and county elementary schools were encouraged to paint/decorate pumpkins in hopes of winning first or second place, or being selected as the “lucky winner,” which came with a $150 prize.
“This year, I asked the kids how they felt about modeling the pumpkins after three children who are patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and that if we won, donating the money to the hospital,” said Melanie Fangman.
Fangman, who is also a teacher, heads the enrichment program at Waterville Community Elementary. Fangman said she began donating to St. Jude’s about five years ago.
“These kids are very intelligent, they have the thought process there to want to give. I came up with the idea, presented it to them and they loved it. So we just went with it,” said Fangman.
The students selected three children featured in a catalog about the hospital.
“These kids enjoyed this project and painting the pumpkins,” said Fangman.
On Thursday, the Bank of Cleveland held a party where it announced the winners of its “Pumpkin Painting” contest.
Fangman’s group of students were randomly selected as the “Lucky Winner.”
“I’m glad we won because this money can help take care of children so they can get cured and get better so they can go back home,” said fifth-grader Haley Parks.
Fifth-grader Austin Roberts said he enjoyed working on the project but it was challenging.
“It was hard because I tried to paint the pumpkin just like the kid in the picture,” said Roberts.
There were 18 submissions for this year’s “Pumpkin Painting” contest hosted by the bank.
The first-place prize was awarded to Shane Brown’s fourth-grade class at North Lee Elementary and second-place was awarded to Barbara Edwards’ kindergarten class at Valley View Elementary.
