COLUMN: Carmel Hopkins

It's all about the kids.

The Nevada Housing Division honored more than 100 pupils Jan. 7, whose art was selected from nearly 1,600 entries in the seventh annual "Where I Live" contest. Of those 119 pieces of art, 12 were chosen to represent the months in the division's annual calendar and a special Judges' Choice was on the cover of the calendar.

For the third year in a row, the event was held at The Venetian. In the past, the crowd assembled in St. Mark's Square. So many people showed up last year, that the folks at The Venetian decided to give the 2003 awards ceremony its own banquet room.

The children's art was beautifully displayed -- matted and mounted on black walls with great lighting. The Venetian had gone all out for the children -- a bronze sign told passersby all about the contest, its sponsors and the schools. The exhibit was roped off, making it look even more important, and the art was admired by convention-goers. At least 500 people showed up for the awards.

Ray Landry, assistant vice president of sales for Pardee Homes of Nevada, handed out $825 in savings bonds to the 13 calendar pinups. Pardee is the most faithful sponsor of the art contest, giving monetary awards in the past five years.

Runner-up awards were presented by Jay Hiner, community development officer for Nevada State Bank. Each child whose art appeared in the display received a goodie bag courtesy of the bank.

The schools whose pupils participated in the contest received gift certificates for their art programs from Mark Tomlinson, past president of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association and a principal with Pacific Properties & Development. Those awards were funded by Piero's restaurant, Houdini's Magic Shop and the builders' association. Geno Munari, head of Houdini's, joined in awarding the certificates.

Initial remarks were made by William E. Martin, head of Nevada State Bank, and Charles L. Horsey, administrator of the Nevada Housing Division.

Andrew Abboud, director of government relations for The Venetian, closed the program. Abboud's assistant Judy Luell not only coordinated the efforts by the hotel, but also was a judge of the art contest, which proved to be an all-day marathon this year.

Other judges were Monica Caruso, director of public relations for the builders' association; Thalia Dondero, chair of the Housing Division's advisory committee and of the University of Nevada Board of Regents; artist and art teacher Vija Hamilton; Gloria Savko, editor of the Real Estate section of the Review-Journal and Sun; and yours truly.

The art competition is sponsored by the Housing Division in conjunction with the Clark County School District's School-Community Partnership Program.

Candy Schneider, assistant director of the program, spoke about the contest and its purpose.

The artists were: Monica Moazez, fifth grade, Meadows School, Judges' Choice; Catherine Kulaga, fifth grade, Piggott Elementary, 1st Place; Lorelle Lagario, second grade, Lowman Elementary, 2nd place; and Natasha Culbreth, first grade, home school, 3rd place. The nine honorable mentions, whose art appears as months in the calendar, were: Cassidy Bukovinsky, third grade, Martha P. King; Destinee Valdez, fifth grade, Goldfarb; Kytiana Johnson, fourth grade, Fitzgerald; Jessica Tuttle, third grade, Kesterson; Tessa DeJong, kindergarten, Meadows; Jetzain Gutierrez Villa, fourth grade, Walter V. Long; Jennifer Toka, fifth grade, Twitchell; Victor Meraz, fourth grade, Twin Lakes; and Michelle Lorza-Lopez, third grade, Ober.

Runners-up, whose artwork is pictured on the back of the calendar, were: Irma Carrillo, fifth grade, John Dooley; Marlene Garcia, fifth grade, Fay Herron; Mia Claridy, second grade, Twitchell; Makenna Youngberg, fifth grade, Marc Kahre; and Jimi Bell, third grade, Ronzone.

I saved the best for last. Thank you, Jean Norton. One of the most hard-working people imaginable, the Housing Division's Norton has been the pivot point of the contest.

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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