TAMAQUA, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Many of us who send Christmas cards look for just the right artwork and an equally good verse. Some local parochial school students were asked to have a hand in making such a card.
In this week's Here's to You Kid, 28/22 News Reporter Mark Hiller introduces us to some students now gaining notoriety thanks to their creativity.
Charles DeFrancisco is familiar with the verse he is reading from a religious Christmas card for sale. After all, the Marian Catholic High School Senior wrote it.
"It's cool to see your own name on something being sold in a store," Charles explained.
He was among the seventh through 12th graders in northeastern Pennsylvania who took part in a Christmas Card Contest.
The card's artwork was already pre-chosen: A light beaming on a baby swaddled in a blanket on a bed of straw with a lamb standing alongside the cradle.
Students were tasked with supplying the words inside the card. The artwork provided all the inspiration Charles needed to find the right words.
"I kind of just, I just went with the picture of the card. You know, I kind of just let it flow," Charles said.
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Butler Township-based pro-life ministry Voice of John sponsored the contest.
"I'm grateful, you know, I did get picked. I just wasn't expecting it so, you know, I'm kind of a little speechless over that," Charles added.
His stiffest competition came from his own high school. Marian Catholic Freshman Laina Walker was the contest runner-up.
"It's a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it," Laina said.
Destiny Melendez placed third.
"It feels good. It feels really, really good. It feels great. It's very exciting. It feels very, very nice," said Destiny.
Their teacher is beyond proud.
"I was, like, shocked especially to have the three you know the winner and runners up. It was very cool," said Marian Catholic High School Theology Teacher Judy Martini.
"I wasn't expecting to win, to be honest. I kind of just did it to do it but I guess mine was good," Charles stated.
The Christmas cards are being sold at Johnson's Pharmacy and Heights Terrace Pharmacy in Hazleton, Heaven and Earth Gift Shop in Scranton, and select churches.
Here's to you, Charles.
If you have a kid you think should be featured on Heres To You Kid!, send in a nomination online.
