BUENA PARK : Student Art Show Winners Honored

Sixth-grader Christine Leva created a work of art that portrays herself.

The self-portrait has a bird perched on a branch, a moon with a shooting star and a saxophone with notes streaming out.

The 12-year-old student at St. Pius V Catholic School said her artwork captures her talents and personality.

“I’m creative, and I’m shy and sensitive,” she said.

Christine was among participants in Buena Park’s 18th annual Student Art Show who were honored at a City Hall reception last week.

Christine, the first-place winner among sixth-grade entrants, said her accomplishment as an artist makes her feel proud.

“I want people to say they like my artwork,” said Christine, who aspires to be a nurse. “It makes me feel happy.”

Edgar Martinez, 11, a fourth-grader at Danbrook Elementary School who wants to be an artist, also expressed pride in winning a first-place award.

“I’m very happy,” said Edgar, who drew a colorful picture of a jungle with an elephant, a monkey swinging from one tree to another, birds flying and a tiger killing a deer. “I thought I wasn’t even going to get a prize.”

The annual show is sponsored by the city’s Fine Arts Commission. This year’s show attracted artworks from 160 youngsters, said Carol Young, who ran the show and is a teacher at Charles G. Emery Elementary School.

The reception for the young artists was a showcase for the children and was attended by parents, teachers and school and city officials.

“It gives them a chance to shine,” Young said.

Entries were submitted by students in kindergarten through sixth grade from St. Pius V and schools in Buena Park and the Centralia School District. Students competed against others in their grades for ribbons for first, second and third places, and honorable-mention awards.

“We’ve always had a lot of art coming from younger students,” Young said. “Now I’m seeing a lot of sixth-grade entries.”

And the children seem to be producing higher-quality artwork. “It seems they have more confidence in their work,” Young said.

Among the winners were:

* Kindergarten--Jovie Lopez, St. Pius V, first; Tierra Keahey, Arthur F. Corey Elementary, second; and Vincent Castaneda, St. Pius V, third.

* First grade--Ann Marie Laroza, Gordon H. Beatty Elementary, first; So Jyung Kang, Corey Elementary, second; and Rosemarie Tamayo, St. Pius V, third.

* Second grade--Heather Armstrong, Emery Elementary, first; Alex Heath, Beatty Elementary, second; and Mark Mancilla, Centralia Elementary, third.

* Third grade--Gwam Oh, Corey Elementary, first; Julie Lee, Corey Elementary, second; and David Puthoff, Emery Elementary, third.

* Fourth grade--Edgar Martinez, Danbrook Elementary, first; Wilfred Asperin, Danbrook Elementary, second; and Jeffrey Kulp, Emery Elementary, third.

* Fifth grade--Grace Oh, Corey Elementary, first; Alana Barrios, George B. Miller Elementary, second; and Kenia Casillas, San Marino Elementary, third.

* Sixth grade--Christine Leva, St. Pius V, first; Nicholas Piscitelli, Beatty Elementary, second; and Gustavo Rodriguez, James A. Whitaker Elementary, third.