And the Winners of "Put Waste in its Place: Keep Nashville Beautiful" Contest

I am so proud of all 70 of the 3rd and 4th graders and the Art Teachers who encouraged each child that entered in the Red River Third annual "Put Waste in its Place: Keep Nashville Beautiful" art contest sponsored by the Metro Beautification Commission, Red River Service Corporation, the Metro Arts Commission and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. I am especially excited about the winners in every categories. Here are the winners: Grand Prize Winner is Karen Sosa of Una Elementary School (Metro Council District 29...Hip Hip Hooray!). Karen's art will be displayed in the Nashville Christmas Parade on Friday, December 5. Taking Second Place is Kaitlyn Cunningham from Hattie Cotton Elementary and Third Place is Triston Kendall from Warner Elementary. Each of these winners receives $1,500, $1,000 and $500 respectively toward their school's art department from Red River Service Corporation, Nashville's largest household waste collection provider. The winners were selected by a panel of Metro Council and Nashville Arts Coalition members. This year, one poster in particular caught their eye - a poster that portrays a unique and thoughtful interpretation of this year's theme. The company is pleased to announce that the Red River Award of Distinction goes to Ankita Pal of Crieve Hall Elementary and Crieve Hall will receive $250 toward its art department as well. On Saturday, December 6 at 10:30 a.m Mayor Karl Dean will present checks to those winning school art departments during a public viewing of all the artwork on Titans Way near LP Field. This year's Grand Prize Winner, Karen Sosa of Una Elementary School, will be featured in the Nashville Christmas Parade this Friday, December 5. Both the winners' and finalists' artwork will be displayed on household waste collection trucks for the next six months as part of a citywide campaign to promote recycling and city beautification. Thank you to Red River Corporation for instituting this very special event three years ago. I also appreciate the contributions of the Metro Arts Commission, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and the Metro Council and for making this event a big success once again! Vivian