Thomas Memorial Library recently welcomed a record crowd as they presented awards to Bluff City Elementary School, Bluff City Middle and Mary Hughes School for their work in an art contest at the library.

Becky Murray, president of the Friends of the Thomas Memorial Library, made the presentations while Bluff City Mayor Irene Wells cheered the winners on. Sullivan County Commissioner Sherry Grubb was also at the awards ceremony lending her support for the effort.

The contest was in honor of the Summer Read Program at the library and the theme for the contest was “Libraries Rock,” which allowed students to put their creative juices to the test as they worked to highlight their love of reading.

The following prizes were awarded: 1st Place ($50), 2nd Place ($30), 3rd Place ($15), Honorable Mentions ($5) and Books A Million donated a special prize of $25. These prizes were awarded in three divisions:  Grades K-2, Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.

There were over 175 entries, out of which 26 were chosen to receive prizes.

The 1st Place prizes went to Skyler Moore – 8th grade Bluff City Middle,  Allison Cox – 3rd grade Bluff City Elementary, and Abbey Gross – Kindergarten Bluff City Elementary.

The 2nd Place prizes were awarded to Laura Andrews – 8th grade Bluff City Middle, Shelby Perry – 6th grade Bluff City Middle, Addison Trivett – 3rd grade Bluff City Elementary, Brody Fletcher – 3rd grade Mary Hughes School, Serenity Pickel – 1st Grade Bluff City Elementary, and Eli Stanley – 1st grade Bluff City Elementary.

The 3rd Place prizes were given to Kelly Huffman – 6th Grade Bluff City Middle, Luke Howell – 6th grade Bluff City Middle, Brooklyn Mooneyham – 4th grade Bluff City Elementary, Clara Glass – 3rd grade Bluff City Elementary, Emily Kelley – 1st grade Bluff City Elementary, and Sloane Embree – 2nd grade Bluff City Elementary.

The $25 Books A Million gift card was given to Chandler Varney – 6th grade Bluff City Middle.

There were ten Honorable Mentions which went to Maddie Shipley, Maddie Woomer, Jackie Baumgardner, Dustin Saddler, Anthony Vernacchio, Kaylee Spanglor and Jordan Reibeling who are all students at

Bluff City Middle, Kaylee Booher and Payton Greenwell – students at Mary Hughes and Mason Joyce who attends Bluff City Elementary.

The Friends of the Thomas Memorial Library were excited that so many students entered the contest and hope to be able to sponsor a contest every year to promote interest in reading, in the library and in supporting the efforts of the Friends group. The Friends have a Facebook page under Friends of the Thomas Memorial Library which has pictures of the winners and other information about the Summer Reading Program so please check them out for more information about the programs offered.