Valencia student wins RGH card contest

PNT senior writer

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A boy who says he doesn’t create a lot of artwork has won the third annual Roosevelt General Hospital Christmas card contest.

Valencia Elementary School fourth-grader Cristian Martinez Delgado won $50 for himself and 50 envelopes and cards sporting his design for his parents.

“I feel really excited that my mom and dad and family get a lot of cards,” Cristian said when asked for his thoughts on the win.

Cristian, son of Guadalupe Delgado and Oscar Martinez, said he plans to buy a DS hand-held video game console with the prize money.

This year’s theme was “Physical Therapy,” and the contest was open to Valencia fourth-graders.

RGH Marketing Director Gay Weese said she and Director of Rehabilitation Services Danny Justus visited the school to talk about physical therapy exercises and why people do them. They ask students for pictures with lots of color.

Justus and his staff chose the winning design.

“And Cristian’s picture caught everybody’s eye,” Weese said. “He showed a little bit of everything.”

Cristian was versatile and showed several different exercises, she continued. The physical therapy staff thought that design was a good representation of the department, Weese said.

To create the design, Cristian said he grabbed pictures provided and traced one of the people and part of another. Everything else he drew freehand.

Cristian’s submission took two art class sessions to finish.

“It was fun,” he said.

Cristian most enjoyed getting to color.

The contest winner was announced Tuesday.

“He’s a great student,” said Sara Hunton, Cristian’s homeroom teacher. “I was really proud that he got to win it. He always works hard, so it was a great reward for his accomplishments.”