When Jake Robertson found out his drawing had won the Red Deer Airport’s Holiday Card Competition, he was “really surprised,” the 11-year-old said.
“I knew that a lot of other schools were drawing, so I didn’t know that I would win,” he said on Wednesday.
The Grade 6 student at Glendale Sciences and Technology School beat out 150 other elementary students in Grades 4 to 6 with his 3D-inspired drawing that is now on the cover of the airport’s corporate Christmas card.
The new contest was created to get young people more engaged with the airport while also involving them in creative activities, said RJ Steenstra, the CEO of the Red Deer Airport Authority.
The contest also fits well with the Grade 6 curriculum, which includes a unit on flight.
The competition was open online to three elementary schools, and Glendale, Fairview and Mattie McCullough schools signed up.
Students were given pictures of planes and the airport’s logo to inspire them and were instructed to involve a Christmas theme.
Beyond that they were allowed to use their imaginations, Steenstra said.
Fairview teacher Colleen Cotnoir said the contest was a hit with students, who were excited to create something that might have a practical application.
The decision was based on which picture best represented the airport and the season, and was also bright and colourful.
Jake’s drawing, which spelled out the airport’s name in red and green 3D letters, with a little Santa dotting the letter i, was eventually named the winner.
The Christmas card with Jake’s drawing has been distributed to about 600 partners and friends of the airport.
Jaime Vasquez, 10, in Grade 5 at Fairview, tied for second with his picture of Santa hopping on a plane instead of a sleigh.
T.J. Helm, the other runner-up, is an 11-year-old sixth grader at Glendale whose plane-themed drawing was inspired by a picture from the airport.
All three artists were presented with a framed copy of their picture in a short ceremony at Glendale on Wednesday. They also received contributions to their RESPs, courtesy of TD Bank. Jake received a $500 RESP contribution, and Jaime and TJ each received $250.
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