Westminster Club Sponsors "Spotlight on Youth"
by Donna Riley

The Westminster and Mt. Airy Kiwanis Clubs sponsored the first "Spotlight on Youth" event on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at Westminster High School to recognize the academic and creative talents of our youth. In collaboration with the Carroll County Public Schools, the event included chess tournaments, a juried art show, speech contests, and an academic challenge. The event was open to all high school academic teams and students attending any one of the county's seven high schools.

Each event recognized the first, second, and third place winner with a medal. The first place winner in each event also received a $50.00 prize and the student's school received $150.00 toward that school's program. In all, over $1,700.00 was awarded to students and schools within the county.

The juried art show had four categories: painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. The first prize winner and best in show was a paste drawing entitled "Painters Kiss" by a senior at Winters Mill High School. The winner of the impromptu speech category was Matt Gentzel. The first place in mixed media was a "garbage truck" (right) made entirely from recyclable materials by Keeley Tober, a sophomore at South Carroll High School.

The county's first chess tournament was won by a student from Century High School, Kyle Smith. Each high school within the county entered a team in the academic challenge. North Carroll High School took first place over Century High School after a double elimination challenge and a sudden death tie-breaker question.