Angels Camp: The third annual attendance awareness poster contest has continued to grow with more Calaveras County schools’ participation. The poster contest is a collaboration of the Calaveras County Office of Education (CCOE), the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB), Calaveras County District Attorney and the Calaveras County Sheriff to increase public awareness about the importance of school attendance. This year’s SARB poster contest received almost 300 entries from students all over Calaveras County. Poster entries were judged and winners determined by the SARB board members.

“Three years ago, Calaveras County schools had the lowest attendance rates in California,” said Calaveras County Superintendent of Schools Scott Nanik. “The SARB poster contest was developed in order to bring the importance of daily attendance to the students, and it’s working.”

First place winner Rebecca Hungerford is an eighth grader at Avery Middle School. She received the grand prize of $150.00 and a date to be ‘Calaveras County Sheriff for the day.’ Rebecca’s poster entry is the new printed poster that will be displayed throughout local Calaveras County businesses. Her poster features a student contemplating “Attendance Counts – 1…2…3…” and results in a thought of a graduation cap surrounded by the words “Good attendance + hard work = Yay! Wow! Amazing Opportunities!”

The second place winner is Angelina Gabriel, an eighth grader at Toyon Middle School, and she was awarded a check for $100.00. Daniel Quezada, a fourth grader at Jenny Lind Elementary, earned third place in poster contest and received a check for $50.00.

The fourth and fifth place winners both received certificates for their poster entries. Fourth place winner is Ben Seeman, an eighth grader at Sierra Hills Educational Center. Fifth place goes to Avery Middle School eighth grader Taylee McDaniel.

“I am excited to see the number of entries continue to grow each year,” said Superintendent Nanik.

Superintendent Nanik and Calaveras County District Attorney Barbara Yook attended the award ceremonies for the winning entries held at the winning students’ schools. “There are so many talented kids in our schools, each year it gets harder and harder to select the finalists,” said Yook. “Being in school helps ensure our kids have the best opportunity for success in the future.”

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