Maines honored in national "Tar Wars" poster contest
By COBY LaRUE
Staff
A Sparta School student recently was recognized in a national poster contest during a ceremony held July 26 in Washington, D.C.
Krysti Maines took third place honors in the national Tar Wars Poster Contest after having placed first in the state of North Carolina about a month prior. Krysti was awarded a total of $375 for her poster, along with a trip to Washington. The contest is open annually to fourth and fifth graders nationwide.
In addition to recognizing poster contest winners, the Tar Wars National Conference, at which the award was given, allows students to voice their opinions about tobacco use and tobacco legislation to their congressional leaders during visits to Capitol Hill.
In an interview Monday, Maines said she enjoyed the trip to Washington and remarked, “It was very big.”
The 10-year-old rising sixth grader (who noted she will be 11 on Sept. 21) said she had the opportunity to meet 5th District U.S. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-Banner Elk), as well as the state's two senators, Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan.
However, Krysti said she spent more time with Foxx, including a trip to the house floor where she was allowed to insert Ms. Foxx's identification card in the machine for a vote. “They were voting on something and I put the card in...There were three different votes.” As for the pace of things for Foxx, she said, “It was very hectic.”
After the votes, Krysti said Foxx took her to the Speaker's Balcony, from which she could see the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. “We could see right over it from where we were—we were up in the dome,” Krysti said. She pointed out that the dome area
Sparta resident Krysti Maines recently took first place in the state Tar Wars Poster Contest and third place in the nation.
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