Southwood art student’s holiday card chosen by Sunstate Bank

Samantha Smith is pictured with the holiday card she designed.

By Gary Alan Ruse….

Samantha Smith is pictured with the holiday card she designed.

Samantha Smith, a sixth grade student in the magnet arts program at Southwood Middle School, has an extra reason to be cheerful this holiday season. Her greeting card design was chosen out of many to be professionally printed and distributed by Sunstate Bank.

As part of the Dade Partners Program that teams local businesses with area schools, Sunstate Bank conducted a competition for middle school art students to enter by designing a special holiday card that the bank could use for its clients locally, in other parts of the country and beyond.

Designs from the best young artists were submitted for judging by bank officials, and the artwork by Smith was selected and printed. When a box of the finished cards was delivered to her classroom on Friday, Dec. 10, Smith was delighted.

“I was pleased they picked mine,” Smith said. “They wanted artwork that would combine the holidays and South Florida, so that’s why I did a palm tree on the beach, with lights strung around it and wrapped packages and sea shells under it.”

Smith’s instructor at Southwood, magnet visual arts teacher Leslie M. McKinley, was pleased with the opportunity Sunstate Bank’s project gave them and was impressed with the quality of the artwork submitted by her students.

“I saw a lot of good entries,” McKinley said. “I’m glad I didn’t have to be one of the judges in the selection process. This has really been fun for the kids.”

For information on becoming a Dade School Partner call Robert Lunior, Volunteer Coordinator, at 305-251-5361 ext. 2221.


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