Valley Automall announces 2012 holiday tree winners
Local high school students displayed their decorating skills during Valley Automall's 15th annual Holiday Tree Decorating Contest. The event took place Nov. 30 inside each of Valley Automall's 20 dealer showrooms in Henderson.
All entries will remain on display and available for free public viewing through the end of December.
"The contest produced some fantastic trees that exemplify school spirit, teamwork and creativity," said Valorie Staley, Valley Automall manager. "Students delivered some imaginative and festive holiday designs."
The first-place winner, Centennial High School's International Club, for example, used colorful school supplies, paper apples and photos for their education-themed entry, "Teachers Rule." Also, a showroom Fiat was temporarily transformed into a school bus, while backpacks lined the base of the tree. The backpacks were stuffed with school supplies, which were later donated to Moore Elementary School.
Besides being named the winner, Centennial took home a $3,000 cash prize for their inspirational effort.
The tree is on display inside Findlay Fiat at 210 N. Gibson Road.
A Strip-inspired tree from Cheyenne High School's Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America took second place. The team received $2,000 for its brightly decorated creation that featured megaresort and entertainment-related ornaments. The Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America will use the prize money to attend state competitions and conduct local group activities. The tree can be viewed at Henderson Chevrolet, 261 Auto Mall Drive.
The third-place winner, showcased inside Findlay Toyota at 7733 Eastgate Road, was Sunrise Mountain High School's Student Council, which received a $1,000 prize for its spin on the television show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Team members reinterpreted as the acronym as Student Council Investigators or SCI. Their crime scene display had a holiday twist with a chalk outline of a murdered snowman with yellow and black caution tape, offset by purple and gold decorations. The Sunrise Student Council will use the award money to support several local charities.
Each of the 20 schools that participated received a stipend to decorate a 10-foot-tall evergreen tree.
Entries were judged by a three-person panel that included KVVU-TV, Channel 5 personalities Elizabeth Watts and John Dabkovich and Dr. Nancy Alamo of the Clark County School District. Additional volunteers included M&M Landscaping's Martin Mendoza and the College of Southern Nevada softball team's Kalei Adams and Savannah Rolston.
The Valley Automall's annual event has distributed thousands in cash prizes during the years, aiding underfunded high school extracurricular programs affected by the recession. Students use contest winnings to help defray club travel expenses, buy equipment and fund school dances, among other things. The event additionally encourages teamwork and creativity.
"This event continues to foster great community involvement," Staley said. "The contest plays a pivotal role in aiding and financially supporting local schools during these hard times."
Valley Automall is off U.S. Highways 93/95 at Auto Show Drive, or the Las Vegas Beltway exit at Gibson Road in Henderson.
Auto mall dealers include Audi Henderson, Chapman Chrysler Jeep, Courtesy Imports, Courtesy Mazda, Desert BMW, Desert Pontiac-GMC, Findlay Acura, Findlay Cadillac-Saab, Findlay Fiat, Findlay Honda Henderson, Findlay Lincoln, Findlay Toyota, Findlay Volkswagen, Ford Country, Henderson Chevrolet, Henderson Nissan, Lexus of Henderson, Mercedes-Benz of Henderson and Towbin Dodge.
Visit www.valleyautomall.com for more information.
