By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
The unique artwork of a local youngster is now on exhibit all over Clark County. A colorful and cheerful design, created by Grant Bowler Elementary fifth grader Robia Grasmick, is now displayed on hundreds of new library cards, available through the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (LVCCLD).
Grasmick’s artwork was one of only a handful of graphics chosen to decorate the new library cards.
Last fall, the LVCCLD held a Library Card Design Contest which was publicized to schools throughout the region. School children were asked to submit their own original artwork for the contest. The only criteria was that it be an original drawing or design that reflects what the library means to them.
Bowler art teacher Shawn Hudgell encouraged all of his students at the school to complete an entry. Most of the kids did exactly that.
Robia’s cheery entry depicts a sunny blue sky with rolling green hills below, filled with colorful flowers. In clear lettering is the slogan, “Reading gives us Personality.”
Robia, 10, said that the slogan was her own invention. She does a lot of reading herself. She prefers books in the fantasy genre and is currently enjoying the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. She said that the things that she reads have a way of becoming a part of her, thus shaping her personality a little at a time.
The county-wide contest received more than 700 entries from applicants of all ages. A special panel of judges narrowed down those entries to a group of only 21 finalists. These were then presented to the public via the LVCCLD main Facebook page. Visitors there could vote for their favorite.
During the months of October and November, the LVCCLD received thousands of votes which helped determine the six winning artists.
Robia received a letter just a few weeks ago informing her that she was one of the six winners. “I was shocked and excited to hear that I had won,” she said. “It was pretty cool to think my picture would be on a library card.”
But, being quiet and reserved by nature, Robia didn’t say much about it to anyone at school. It wasn’t until the last week or so that Mr. Hudgell learned that one of his students had won.
“She is so well-behaved and soft-spoken, she didn’t say anything about it,” Hudgell said. “But I just can’t tell you how excited I was to hear that she had won. It was such an honor to our school!”
On Friday morning, Robia was recognized in front of the whole school during a Morning Muster assembly out at the playground flagpole. Hudgell presented her with a large box of professional-grade color pencils as a prize, so that she could continue her artistic endeavors.
Bowler principal Shawna Jessen said that she was ecstatic to hear of the award.
“I don’t want to brag,” she said, “but this is just another example of the high calibre of students we have in this community and at Grant Bowler Elementary. It is just wonderful!”
The new library card is available now at the Moapa Valley Library in Overton. Library patrons can visit the branch and ask to renew their card with the local artist’s work, or any of the other winners in the contest.
“We were so pleased with the sheer number of diverse and creative entries we received for the Library Card Design Contest,” said Dr. Ronald R. Heezen, Executive Director of the LVCCLD. “Each one was a reflection of the talent that we have in our great communities. It was exciting to see the outpouring of library fans who showed up to cast their votes. Thank you to the winners, finalists and every single participant who took action during our first-ever contest of this kind.”
