"Friendship" was the theme for the Junior Journalist Young Expressionist Contest for last November.
By Times Staff Writer
Published May 29, 2003
April Hurlburt of Cypress Elementary School in New Port Richey won for an essay; Amanda Smith of Centennial Elementary School in Dade City won for poetry; and Kathleen Ure of West Zephyrhills Elementary School in Zephyrhills for an illustration.
April Hurlburt, 9, is a fourth-grader in Susan Phillippi's class at Cypress Elementary. She is the daughter of April and Frank Hurlburt of New Port Richey. April said entering the contest was a class assignment, and although art is her favorite subject at school, she chose to write an essay because she feels friendship is important. She plans to be a veterinarian but at this age she is allergic to dogs. "I hope to outgrow it when I am older," she explained. "If not then I would like to be a pediatrician." Her hobbies are riding her bike and she enjoys painting, mostly with watercolors.
Amanda Smith, 10, is a fourth-grader in Sherri Warsick's class at Centennial Elementary. Amanda enjoys playing basketball, swimming and playing with Hemmingway, a kitten she rescued. Amanda's winning poem entitled Friendship is inspired by her mom, Terry Smith, who Amanda says is her best friend. Amanda aspires to be an author when she grows up. She says winning this contest was a relief, after coming in second in last year's Expressionist contest. Amanda is the daughter of Steven and Terry Smith of Dade City and has a sister, Hayley, 7.
Kathleen Ure, who attends West Zephyrhills Elementary School, won for her illustration. Kathleen is 8 years old and in Christina Twardosz's third grade class. Kathleen's mother is Luan Gore and her father is Clive Ure. Kathleen likes art and wants to be an artist when she grows up. When she gets home from school Kathleen does her homework, plays with her younger brother and then works on her drawings before she goes to bed.
The contest is sponsored by the Pasco Times and the Pasco County school district. Each month during the school year, a committee of school personnel selects winners in the categories of art, essay and poetry. The contest is open to third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. Each winner receives a gift certificate for a book and a certificate of merit.
Friendship
A friend is someone who loves and cares,
A friend is someone who always shares.
And sometimes when you're feeling blue,
Your friend will be there to guide you through.
A friend is someone who's always true,
That's why I'm glad that you're my friend too.
- Amanda Smith: Centennial Elementary
Friendship
Alyssa is my best friend and has been since kindergarten. That's all the way back to 1998, 5 years ago. I think that people with a friendship should stay together. If people get separated in any way, they should get each other's phone numbers and memorize them so you can stay in touch.
In kindergarten, Alyssa and I were good friends. People used to make fun of her because she was shy and wore glasses. But I stuck up for her and that's how we became friends.
The first time she came over to my house, we ate hot dogs. We were chewing them with our bathing suits on so when we finally got done eating them, we could jump in my pool. When Alyssa jumped in my pool, all of her curly, dark brown hair just automatically went straight! That was so funny!! We went under water with our goggles on. When we opened up our eyes and looked at each other, I could see her big brown eyes through the crystal clear water. We played for eight hours until she went home.
Alyssa had her 9th birthday in the fall and the party was at the skating rink called Astro Skate. She invited all the girls who used to be in my class and guess who came? Only Tori and I went to the party. I think that only Tori and I are Alyssa's true friends. When we were there, we had pizza, coke and cake. At the end of the party, we all got our hair sprayed glowing pink and got to pick a song to skate to. That was cool!
Alyssa and I got separated this school year, but we still go over to each other's houses and keep in touch. Alyssa is loyal, respectful, honest, and we have common interests. She is kind, caring, trustworthy and sharing to me. I do the same to her. Alyssa is the best friend that I ever had and we have a special friendship.
