Four Winners of Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge #1896 Holiday Decorating Contest Announced

THE WILDWOODS – The Greater Wildwood Fraternal Elks Lodge No. 1896 recently sponsored its fifth annual holiday window decorating contest for students and art teachers from four schools located in the Wildwoods: Wildwood Middle School, Margaret Mace, Cape Trinity Catholic and Crest Memorial.
Art teachers from each school selected two of their top art students from grades six through eight to compete. Six-foot-by-eight-foot windows at the Wildwoods Convention Center facing the Boardwalk between Montgomery Avenue and Burk Avenue were the canvases on which the students painted original holiday-themed artwork over a two-day period. Judges from the Wildwoods Convention Center and the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) rated the artwork based on creativity, theme and artistic talent.
A total of more than $775 in prize money was awarded by the Greater Wildwood Fraternal Elks. The top four winners each receive cash awards; and a donation of $100 was given by the Elks to each participating school’s art program to encourage the continuation of arts in the schools. The Holiday Decorating contest winners were:
First Place – $150 to Holly Karavanas, Wildwood Crest Memorial
Second Place – $100 to Caitlyn Tracey, Wildwood Crest Memorial
Third Place – $75 to Yair Jimenez Riano, Wildwood Middle School
Honorable Mention – $50 to Kara McLaughlin, Margaret Mace
“We’re thrilled to offer this event once again as part of our ongoing youth activities program and efforts to encourage arts in the schools,” said George Greenland, Greater Wildwood Fraternal Elks Lodge 1896 youth activities director. “We love to give back to our community and what better way than by encouraging our local children to express and showcase their artistic talents and by donating money to help improve their arts education,” he added.
“GWTIDA and the Wildwoods Convention Center are proud to be a part of this community activity, and we’re pleased to have the artwork of these talented students displayed on our windows for the entire community to see,” said John Siciliano, executive director/CFO for GWTIDA.
For more information about the Greater Wildwood Fraternal Elks Lodge 1896, call (609) 729-2170.
For additional information about the Wildwoods, visitwww.WildwoodsNJ.com or call (800) 992-9732.