Education Feature: committee involves students in celebrating county history

The Curry County Centennial Committee is teaching the history of the county to its students through art and writing.

The Centennial Committee hosted an art and essay contest for the students at Yucca Middle School and Clovis Christian School.

Patsy Delk, marketing committee member, said it’s important to get students involved in the history of Curry County.

“There is a lot of history in our county and it’s important for the young generation to know about it,” she said.

Delk, a former educator, said focusing on writing and the arts is an effective way to encourage students to learn.

Contest winners received bank bonds in the amount of $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $100 for third place. Honorable mention winners received gift certificates.

Eighth-grader Katy Mares of Clovis Christian took first place for her essay and colored-pencil drawing.

Her piece showed the history of the area, including aircraft from Cannon Air Force Base, a train to represent the railroad and a cow to represent the dairy industry.

Mares, 13, said she picked the elements most relevant to the history of the county she calls home.

“It’s good to know the history of my surroundings. If you don’t know about the history of where you’re from, you don’t really know anything about it,” she said.

Mares spends her time playing basketball, volleyball, the piano and the clarinet and going to church. She said she enjoys drawing in what little spare time she has left.

Delk said the Centennial Committee is planning another art contest for the elementary schools. Centennial Committee members are also planning to speak to classrooms about the history of the county.

Centennial Art and Essay Contest Winners

Yucca Middle School

1st - Shane Hendon, 7th grade

2nd - Samuel Wade, 8th grade

3rd - Ty Frazier, 7th grade

Clovis Christian School

1st - Katy Mares, 8th grade

2nd - Katheryn Clemmons, 9th grade

3rd - Christian Dang, 9th grade

Honorable Mention

Ashley Laumbach, 9th grade

Kaitlyn Turvaville, 9th grade