PITTSFIELD, Maine — When folks attend the Central Maine Egg Festival here next month, they’ll notice a heroic design on the festival’s official T-shirts.
Festival President Debra Billings and her staff turned to some young artists to provide an attractive look, and the work of Warsaw Middle School seventh-grader Jamie Wone of Pittsfield won organizers’ support.
The theme for this year’s T-shirt was “Hometown Heroes,” and Wone’s work depicting a solider, police officer, firefighter, doctor and teacher — all in the shape of eggs — was the winning design.
Sixth-graders Ashley Sumrall and Emillie Singh, both of Pittsfield, placed second and third, respectively.
All three pupils are students in Colleen Lancaster’s art class at Warsaw.
“It’s something new we tried this year,” Billings said. “I think it was quite successful.”
Billings added that the entries that Sumrall and Singh submitted were returned to them after Wone’s had won.
“We like to keep the focus on the winner,” Billings said when asked what Sumrall and Singh’s designs were.
Wone’s winning entry will be on full display when the 39th annual festival kicks off on July 19, and the T-shirts are for sale at the Pittsfield Municipal Building for $18, with all proceeds benefiting festival programming.
Approximately 21 pupils in grades five through eight took part in the T-shirt design contest and were judged on the use of the egg, originality and its fit with this summer’s theme.
The judging panel included Billings, contest Chairman Jim Cianchette, Pittsfield Area Kiwanis President Jen Down and Town Manager Kathryn Ruth.
The turnout of local youths was so impressive that Billings intends to open the contest again for the festival’s 40th birthday next year.
“The contest was such a hit with the kids that it is our intention to include fifth through eighth grade students from SAD 48 in 2012,” said Billings.
Wone, Sumrall and Singh received prizes for their efforts, including movie passes to Pittsfield Community Theater, Kiwanis Karnival ride bracelets for the festival and the T-shirts.
One of the Egg Fesitval’s unique features is the Egg-lympics, a plethora of events for youngsters ranging in age from 3 to 16.
The Egg-lympics will be held on July 20 at Hathorn Park, and events include a five-egg relay, egg toss, rubber chicken throw, watermelon roll, a wheelbarrow race, water balloon toss, an egg ball elimination and a squirt gun fight.
Activities wrap up on July 24 with a full day of performances from local bands, artists and comedians.
