The Villages Daily Sun

BUSHNELL — Lindsey Attaway couldn’t wait to show her parents the special certificate she won Tuesday at the Sumter County School Board meeting.

Attaway, a pupil at North Sumter Primary School in Wildwood, received the certificate and a $50 gift card for winning first place in the elementary division of the Sumter County Schools Science Center T-shirt artwork contest.

Sumter County School District employee Chris Burk, who coordinated the contest with Rinker Materials Community Relations Manager Tracy Bryant, brought more than 30 samples of art created by students in elementary, middle and high schools to the school board meeting Tuesday night.

“It was very difficult to select the best,” Burk said. “Because the art was just outstanding. We have some very talented children in our schools.”

Burk introduced the winners to the board members, who shook hands with the children and congratulated them for their artistic skills.

Board Chair Chris Norris asked Burk if there would be information on the artists and the science center project at the county fair this year.

“This is such a wonderful project; the Sumter County Fair is a great opportunity to inform the public on our goals,” Norris said.

Burk said the project was not far enough along for this year’s fair, but next year “watch out.”

“We’ll have something spectacular,” Burk said.

T-shirt contest winners in the elementary school division were: Lindsey Attaway, first place; Thomas McFarland, second place; and Taylor Wiley, third place. Middle school winners were: Amanda Sullivan, first place; Alyssa Futch, second place; Ashley Woolfork, third place. High school winners included: Caitlin Hall, first place; Nicole Palmer, second place; and Chelsea Moffitt, third place.

First-place winners received a $50 gift card, second place a $25 gift card, and third place a $15 gift card. In addition, winners and their families will receive T-shirts with the art work.

The art was the result of a contest to promote the new Sumter County Schools Science Center, which is a partnership between Rinker Materials and the school district.

The center has a classroom, and for the next several years Sumter district students at all levels will work on reclamation projects at the Center Hill quarry site.

“Rinker has provided the frames and matting for all the art you see tonight,” Burk said. “Plus they paid for the certificates and provided the monetary awards.”

During the meeting, Burk brought board members up to date on the latest developments at the center.

“Middle school and high school students have made four trips to the classroom to catalog the flora and fauna,” Burk said. “They are also studying the habitat to determine what and where different types of plants should be used for the reclamation process.”

In April, students will begin planting about 5,000 native plants at the first designated site.

Since the project began in March 2006, Rinker Materials has contributed $38,634 to the project in the form of a classroom, supplies, consultants for curriculum workshops and T-shirts with student artwork and prizes.

Patricia Steele is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 7992, or patricia.steele@thevillagesmedia.com.