Local Student is a Top Place Winner in
National Art Contest Sponsored by the
Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S.
Front row: Lynn
Szklanny, DRE at St. Aloysius; Sandy
Thanh Tran, Cindy’s mother and baby
brother; Cindy; her sister Jenny
Back row: Fr. Savari Thumma, Asst.
Pastor; Deacon Edward Kelly; and
Miriam Heverline |
Cindy Vo, a 7th grade student
at Hanover Township Junior High
School, was honored at the 9 o’clock
Mass last Sunday at St. Aloysius
Church in Wilkes-Barre as a top
place winner in a national Christmas
art contest sponsored by the
Pontifical Mission Societies in the
U.S.
A plaque which featured Cindy’s depiction
of the three wise men following the
star in their search for the Christ
Child was presented |
to Cindy by Deacon Edward T. Kelly,
Director of the Pontifical Missions office
in the Diocese of Scranton. Appreciation is
extended to Fr. Andy Sinnott, pastor of St.
Aloysius Parish, for his support of Cindy’s
national recognition.
One of 24 winners out of 10,000 entries
from across the country, Cindy was a 6th
grade student at St. Aloysius School when
she submitted her entry for the 2009
contest. All 24 pieces of original artwork
were displayed at the National Shrine of the
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington, D.C. during the Advent and
Christmas Seasons. A Mass for winners and
their families was celebrated at the Shrine
on December 11, 2009. Miriam Heverline,
Mission Education Coordinator for the
Diocese, attended the Mass at the Basilica
and accepted the plaque for Cindy.
Information about the Holy Childhood
Association (HCA) Annual Artwork Contest is
available online at
www.hcakids.org.
Cindy’s artwork and the entries of all 24
winners can be seen on this website. The
contest is open to Catholic school, public
school and home-schooled elementary school
students. An entry form for the 2009-2010
contest is available at that website.
HCA is the “children helping children”
society of the Pontifical Missions.
