Pupils' decorations win prizes for schools

One hundred and forty-four pupils submitted decorations for a competition.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A model of a skating pond, a tree composed of colored loops of tin, several wreaths and assorted ornaments.
These were among the items submitted by area pupils trying to win a prize for the best decorations at the Students Motivated By the Arts holiday open house at Powers Auditorium Tuesday.
Some pupils created music on drums during the SMARTS event, while others produced greeting cards for troops in the 910th Air Wing stationed overseas.
"The students produced many beautiful things. They are on display all around our facility," said Sylvia Hudson, SMARTS administrative assistant, conducting a tour.
She pointed to a large tree covered with dozens of ornaments, including snowmen, stars and little red sleds, created by pupils from several schools, a wreath made out of grape vines and a table centerpiece of greens topped by a red and white candle.
Pizza prize
The pupils were competing for a first prize of a pizza party for their school. The runner-up school will receive a free performance of either "Beans" or "Poe" to be presented by The Oakland's Magic Carpet Theater. A gift basket, valued at more than $100, will be given to the school placing third.
Rebecca L. Keck, SMARTS director, announced the winners after she and her staff surveyed the entries.
She said St. Nicholas School, whose pupils submitted an array of decorations including the mini skating pond, wreaths and a nativity, won the top prize. St. Charles School, which submitted a 4-foot metal Christmas tree, came in second. Volney Rogers School, which brought a large wreath and outstanding tree ornaments, took the third place prize.
"Though some were chosen winners, all the schools did a great job in creating decorations," Keck said.
In addition to the holiday decorations, visitors at the open house viewed a display of about 40 artworks produced by pupils of all ages through high school.
The paintings included "Oh, No! Clowns Are in My Windows," portraits of six clowns in a window frame by Nikki Mahle, a pupil at Canfield Middle School; "Fall Forest" by Alenna Merlo, a pupil at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School; and "Gregg's Pond I and II," by Annah Trunick, of Joseph Badger High School in Kinsman.
Gail Stark, a member of the board of the Trumbull Art Gallery in Warren, said 144 pupils submitted 170 artworks for exhibit.
Some of them were selected for display at SMARTS, while the rest were divided between the Trumbull Art Gallery and the Children's Museum in Yorkstown.
Miss Ohio
The open house also featured a visit from Amanda Beagle of Howland, who was named Miss Ohio for the 2004 Miss America Pageant. Beagle, an opera singer and a Youngstown State University graduate, spoke to pupils about her role as a voice, dance and theater arts instructor for SMARTS.
SMARTS is an education partnership involving YSU's College of Fine and Performing Arts, the College of Education, the Youngstown city schools and area arts organizations. SMARTS has a stated goal of motivating children to succeed in all areas of life by instructing them in the discipline required to create art. It offers classes in visual arts, music, dance and theater, with an emphasis on literacy.