First Lady encourages students to participate in Fourth Annual Ornament Competition

Kindergarten classes and 12th grade art students can enter their stocking ornaments

First Lady Gayle Manchin is encouraging all kindergarten classes and 12th grade art students to create a stocking ornament to be displayed

on the State Capitol Christmas Tree, which will be in the Capitol Rotunda later this year.

“This marks the fourth year for the ornament competition and we are hoping for the largest one yet,” said First Lady Gayle Manchin. “We invite all kindergarten classes and 12th grade art students to join in the holiday festivities and submit ornaments to help us decorate our Christmas tree.”

To give enough time for the winning class to be notified, each decorated stocking must be received no later than Monday, Nov. 10, 2008. For information contact Molly George at (304)558-2440 or by email at mgeorge@wvosea.org.

“For four years now, we have been so impressed with our students’ dedication and creativity,” the first lady added. “This competition allows us to showcase our children’s artistic talents, while also encouraging students to become involved with our state’s annual Christmas celebration – Joyful Night.”

This is the fourth annual ornament competition. In the past, students were asked to create a bell, a star and a snowflake decoration. The ornaments and the Christmas tree will be unveiled in conjunction with Joyful Night, the annual holiday celebration at the State Capitol, in early December. The entire winning kindergarten class will be invited to join the governor and the first lady on the platform to “flip the switch” on the huge lighted outdoor tree.

During the holidays at the Governor’s Mansion, the winning ornament from the kindergarten class and the 12th grade student will be displayed in the Grand Foyer, and in January 2009, these two winning ornaments will be donated to the West Virginia State Museum for their permanent collection. The winners, their teachers and families will be invited to a reception in the mansion, prior to Joyful Night.