Announcing the Winners of the First-ever Be Kind. Poster Contest

Thank you for being so patient with us. It took a little longer than expected to judge the nearly 280 submissions, but we are happy to announce our winners for the first-ever Be Kind. Poster Contest! And the awards go to...

Elementary School

• Grand Prize Winner: Lara Lasko, 5th Grade, Mt. Carmel Area Elementary School

• Runner-up: James Straub, 2nd Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary School

Middle School

• Grand Prize Winner: Cassie Bancia, 7th Grade, Donald H. Eichorn Middle School

• Runner-up: Mia Bartholomew, 6th Grade, Mifflinburg Middle School

High School

• Grand Prize Winners: Damion Speck, Seals Den, Selinsgrove Area High School (STEP Program)

• Runner-up: Jessica Wert, 12th Grade, Skiellamy High School (STEP Program)

Honorable Mentions

• Raelynn Rosario, Kindergarten, Southern Columbia Area Elementary

• Ruby Serafini, 1st Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary

• Douglas Taylor, 3rd Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary

• Audrina Stefanowicz, 4th Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary

• Alivia Thomas and Makenzie Madden, 8th Grade, Selinsgrove Middle School

Each Grand Prize winner will receive a $100 cash prize while the runner-ups will receive Be Kind. merchandise!

A HUGE thank you to all those who submitted their work. The judges were so happy with all the entries; it was a tough decision. We can't wait til next year!

We also want to thank our Kindness Campaign Sponsor Evangelical Community Hospital for making this possible

Lara Lasko, 5th Grade, Mt. Carmel Area Elementary (Grand Prize Winner)

"A dog is standing in the rain put like an umbrella over it. So if you think someone or something needs help, be kind and like help it."

James Straub, 2nd Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary (Runner-up)

"My poster shows a neighbor helping their elderly neighbor water her flowers. Helping makes me feel good inside and watering flowers keeps them beautiful so the whole neighborhood can see them."

Cassie Bancia, 7th Grade, Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School (Grand Prize Winner)

"The meaning behind my poster is to display how I think kindness would feel to others when they hear something nice to them. The drooping hearts show how a broken, unmotivated heart can turn into a happy, pleasant heart. The colorful background is to show what my inner happy heart would like: bubbly and sweet. Everything on the poster overall is supposed to show the inner heart/self when it receives kindness. How kindness fixes a sad heart and the over inside of a happy heart."

Mia Bartholomew, 6th Grade, Mifflinburg Middle School (Runner-up)

"My poster has dragons trying to catch hearts. The hearts stand for kindness and love. While the dragons are trying to catch the hearts and the hearts would fulfill their kindness and love."

Damion Speck, Seals Den, Selinsgrove Area High School (Grand Prize Winner

Member of the STEP Program

Jessica Wert, 12th Grade, Shikellamy High School (Runner-up)

Member of the STEP Program

Raelynn Rosario, Kindergarten, Southern Columbia Area Elementary (Honorable Mention)

Ruby Serafini, 1st Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary (Honorable Mention)

Douglas Taylor, 3rd Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary (Honorable Mention)

"My poster shows me feeding an ankylosaur."

Audrina Stefanowicz, 4th Grade, Southern Columbia Area Elementary (Honorable Mention)

“The meaning behind my be kind poster is no matter what be kind. It shows all different people being kind, and I made the top very bright so that “be kind” stands out. Another meaning is everyone is different and that doesn't mean you shouldn't be kind to them.”

Alivia Thomas and Makenzie Madden, 8th Grade, Selinsgrove Middle School (Honorable Mention)