Submitted article
Families, businesses and organizations throughout the United States send millions of Christmas cards every year. Many of these Christmas cards are designed and mass-produced by major greeting card companies.
Other cards are more unique and represent the sender more closely than the traditional store bought Christmas cards. This year, the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) adopted the Bucyrus City School District and asked the district to provide Christmas cards designed by Bucyrus students.
“Each year, we ask that students utilize a 5” x 3.5” design space,” OSBA Deputy Director of Communication Services Crystal Davis said. “Once we receive the cards, they are spread out on a table and all OSBA employees are invited to vote for their favorite design.”
The top card designs selected by the employees are featured in an issue of the OSBA Journal magazine. The winning design is printed and sent to those who do business with OSBA as the association’s Christmas card for the year.
“When Crystal approached me with this idea I did not hesitate to say yes,” Bucyrus Superintendent Kevin Kimmel said. “I immediately contacted Elementary School art teacher Doris Prenger and presented her with the idea, and she was more excited than me for the opportunity this presented to showcase her students’ artistic abilities.”
Elementary School students in first through fourth grade submitted Christmas card designs for the opportunity to compete for statewide bragging rights. Bucyrus fourth grader Jalynn Diller’s Christmas card design was selected as the OSBA Christmas card design winner. Jalynn received a commendation from the Bucyrus Board of Education for her outstanding accomplishment during the board’s regular meeting Dec. 18.
“This was a unique opportunity for our district and I appreciate OSBA asking us to participate,” Bucyrus Board President Bradley Murtiff said. “We are proud of all our students and their artwork, and are very excited for Jalynn’s Christmas card design to be seen by individuals all across the state.”
In its 59th year, OSBA leads the way to educational excellence by serving Ohio’s public school board members and the diverse districts they represent through superior service, unwavering advocacy and creative solutions. Please contact Crystal Davis at cdavis@ohioschoolboards.org for more information about the OSBA Christmas card program.