Kellogg Elementary School sixth grader Natalie Medina's depiction of two cuddling penguins

Kellogg Elementary School sixth grader Natalie Medina's depiction of two cuddling penguins will adorn holiday greeting cards sent out by the Chula Vista Elementary School District this season. — Photo courtesy of the Chula Vista Elementary School District

Student's art to grace holiday card to community leaders
Chula Vista Elementary School District has held student card contest for 25 years
By Caroline Dipping
SDUT
Dec. 11, 2013

CHULA VISTA — Who needs Hallmark?

Not the Chula Vista Elementary School District.

As it has done for more than a quarter of a century, the school district is eschewing the business of buying and mailing out commercial holiday greeting cards in favor of issuing a more homegrown sentiment.

This year, more than 200 of the district’s “key communicators” will receive a greeting card adorned with art created by a Chula Vista student. Specifically, a colorful drawing of two cuddling penguins drawn by Kellogg Elementary School sixth grader Natalie Medina.

Natalie took first place in the school district’s biennial holiday greeting card competition. Her drawing of embracing penguins received the most votes from district personnel and community leaders including Mayor Cheryl Cox and Sunset Rotary Club members who cast their ballots last week in the district office. She received $75.

Camila Natalia Gomez, a fourth grader at Heritage Elementary, took second place with her wintry snowman and won $50 in the competition. Finney Elementary sixth grader Melissa Holtcamp placed third and won $25 for her portrait of a group of people holding hands and a peace symbol.

Each school in the Chula Vista Elementary School District was invited to submit one schoolwide winning card for the competition, with each school-level winner receiving a cash gift of $25. The second and third place winners were also recognized and one of their cards will be used for the 2014 mailings.

The teachers of the districtwide winners will each receive gift certificates. Recipients of the cards will include Mayor Cox and city council members, advisory group members and superintendents in other school districts.

Per district tradition, printing, postage and prize money were donated so there was no cost to taxpayers. This year, Copy Link Inc. in Chula Vista is paying for the printing of the cards and California Coast Credit Union is defraying the cost for postage and prizes.