Lucky picker takes home the grand prize

The Vindictor’s Pick the Oscar Winners contest

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Debbie McKinney of Austintown is the winner of The Vindicator’s Pick the Oscar Winners contest.

McKinney correctly picked 16 of the 20 categories in the contest and will take home a prize package worth $500.

She receives a $100 gift certificate to five local businesses: Bruno’s Restaurant in Poland, Full Circle Florist in Youngstown, Julia’s Bed and Breakfast in Hubbard, Nicolinni’s Restaurant in Boardman and Austintown, and The Winner in Sharon, Pa.

McKinney has won before in The Vindicator’s Pick the Oscar Winners contest, finishing third in 2007.

An attorney for the state Industrial Comission in the Voinovich Building, downtown, McKinney is a graduate of Wittenberg University and Capital Law School in Columbus.

To keep up on movie news, she regularly reads The Vindicator’s entertainment section.

The only categories she missed were Cinematography, Documentary Feature, Film Editing and Visual Effects.

Like many contestants, she selected “The Artist” for Best Picture; its star, Jean Dujardin, for Best Actor; and its director, Michel Hazanavicius, for Best Director.

“When I saw ‘The Artist,’ I knew it would win,” she said.

The second- and third-place finishers also correctly picked 16 of the 20 categories.

The final ranking was determined by a random drawing, in accordance with contest rules.

Charlie McQuillan of Youngstown won second place. He will receive $300 worth of gift certificates: $100 to Julia’s Bed and Breakfast, and $50 each from Bruno’s Restaurant, Full Circle Florist, Nicolinni’s Restaurant and The Winner.

Robert Beck of Campbell won third place. He will receive $200 in gift certificates: $50 each from Bruno’s, Full Circle, Nicolinni’s and The Winner.

The Vindicator received 213 entries for the contest.

Four people correctly picked 16 categories, and 12 people correctly picked 15 categories.