Youth Congress greeting card contest winners announced

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Winning greeting card

The Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation (CLVFF) announced the winners of their Youth Congress greeting card contest.

The grand prize of two season tickets to Disneyland will be awarded to Luis Andrade, a sophomore at Thousand Oaks High School, at next month’s CLVFF Board of Trustees meeting. Luis submitted a charcoal sketch that depicts a young man hugging his girlfriend.

Each year, the CLVFF Youth Congress invites participants to create something significant that ties into the theme of their symposium. In April, Youth Congress XX focused on the theme "Do You Hear Me? Relationships 101." The theme was then incorporated into the greeting card contest, which invited local high school students to create a card that spoke to relationships between friends, family or teachers. Drawing, painting and photography were acceptable submissions.

Luis said that his drawing symbolizes love between a boyfriend and girlfriend. "The theme was about relationships, and (my drawing) was a symbol of love and the beginning of a family," he said. He added that the greeting card contest was the first contest he had ever entered and that he was really pleased that he won. "I feel pretty good," he said. He added that he would like to become a professional artist.

Runners-up included Ellen Lloyd and Kari Lewis of Newbury Park High School. Ellen, a junior, created two charcoal drawings. Her winning entry is of a mother and daughter snuggling and laughing. Kari, 16, submitted a drawing of intertwined hands, young and old. Oaks Christian High School students David Ross, 14, and James Cassell, 15, were also named runners-up in the competition. David submitted a colored sketch of a child’s arms holding up a teddy bear, while James’ rendition of people playing musical instruments demonstrates communication through music. Runners-up in the competition received movie passes and gift certificates to local stores.

"There is so much talent among our young people," said Fran Brough, CLVFF executive director.

Brough explained that the group is seeking a sponsor to print the cards. They’re hoping to produce Luis’ winning entry and some of the other student cards as saleable greeting cards. All proceeds support the CLVFF Youth Congress activities, including youth scholarships.

For further information on CLVFF and Youth Congress, contact the CLVFF at (818) 880-1054 or visit their website at www.clvff.org.