Two budding youth artists have been recognized for their work in celebrating Georgia’s only president.
Thomas County Central High School had two students place in the “Plains, Peanuts and a President” postcard contest. Ninth grader Zion Jackson won first place for his grade division and sophomore Derrick Brock placed second in his.
“I feel kind of surprised that my artwork was picked because there were a lot of great postcards that other people drew,” Zion Jackson said.
The contest is sponsored by the Jimmy Carter NHS Education Program. This year’s theme was “Celebrating 90 Years” in honor of Georgia’s only president, Jimmy Carter’s, 90th birthday.
The idea Jackson used for his card centered on one item: a birthday candle.
“The item that inspired me was a mere birthday candle,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘nothing is more fun than having your birthday.’”
Derrick Brock said he knew how to draw peanut plants because “I have seen them growing in Metcalf.”
“The house in my postcard is Jimmy Carter’s farm house,” Brock said of his design. “I went on a field trip there in eighth grade. I made the house red instead of white for a bright color.”
The contest had more than 13,000 entries for grades K-12 with 29 winners, according to Director Annette Wise.
A parade and awards ceremony was held Sept. 27 during the annual Plains Peanut Festival. Jackson, who attended, said Carter told him “he liked my cake.”
The first and second place winners are currently on exhibit at Plains High School Museum in Plains.
“We are very proud that the efforts of these artistic young men have been acknowledged at the Jimmy Carter NHS Foundation,” TCCHS Art Teacher Jocelyn Rivard said. “Both boys spent a great deal of time on their imaginative concepts and color pencil shading.”
