Students in art teacher Becky Ziemianski’s Design in Materials class have a lot to be proud of.
Not only did they win the ‘Judge’s Choice? award at Port Huron Hospital’s 19th Annual Festival of Trees, they helped raise funds for a worthy cause.
‘I couldn’t believe it,? Ziemianski said. ‘I was really pleasantly surprised and extremely honored.?
Ziemianski’s talented class spent a week creating a combined 150 ornaments using stained-glass, beads and painted glass bulbs to decorate a six-foot Christmas tree for the Dec. 1 event, which was a fund-raiser for Children’s Services at Port Huron Hospital.
‘This is the most together and motivated class,? Ziemianski said. ‘They came up with the best ideas we’ve ever had. I think that’s why we won.?
The Design in Materials class is an advanced craft class based on art history and multicultural artistic techniques.
Nancy Klemmer, Port Huron Hospital’s event planner, called the students? tree ‘beautiful.?
‘It looked like it had been designed by professionals,? she said. ‘You could really tell they put a lot of thought into it.?
The event featured 70 decorated Christmas trees ranging from 4-7? feet in height and 75 wreaths.
This is the fourth year one of Ziemianski’s art classes has participated in a Festival of Trees event, but the first year Oxford’s entered the one in Port Huron.
In past years, they’ve entered the one that benefits Children’s Hospital of Michigan, but unfortunately, this year that event decided to use all professional tree designers.
Ziemianski believes this type of project is important because it’s a way for kids to help other kids, who are less fortunate.
‘They need to know that they’re extremely lucky compared to other kids,? she said. ‘Oxford kids have got it pretty good.?