THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 29, 1995 TAG: 9511280081
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINDSOR LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
When a contest was held at Windsor Middle School last year to design a school mascot, more than 25 entries were sub-mitted.
Artsy images of bulldogs, warriors, panthers and knights paraded across the desk of a teacher working with a student committee to make the selection, says Dolores Goffigan, coordinator of school and community services activities.
The decision was unanimous. A wildcat with piercing eyes would represent what was the county's newest middle school. Red and gold were chosen for the school colors.
The wildcat image was put onto a laser disk and reproduced over the summer on T-shirts, notebooks and plastic drinking cups.
But there was one question: Who designed that wildcat?
The artwork was accompanied by an artsy signature, but it was so artsy that the teacher and the student committee - in fact, nobody - could decipher it.
``We couldn't read the signature,'' Goffigan laughs.
The mystery artist herself didn't know her drawing had been chosen until recently, when she saw another student wearing a shirt with the official Windsor Middle School wildcat.
At that point, Amber Pearson, a 13-year-old eighth grader who loves to draw cartoons, finally got the recognition she deserved.
``This child has talent, and it needs to be known,'' Goffigan says. ``The wildcat will be this school's mascot for as long as the school exists, and Amber is the designer.''
To carry out the wildcat theme, the school recently had its own flag made by local flagmaker Susan Williams of Carrsville. The wildcat is centered against a bright red background with gold lettering.
The flag cost more than $300, paid for by the PTA and Louise Obici Memorial Hospital, Windsor Middle's community-business partner.
And finally, Amber feels like the celebrity she is.
She most likes to create cartoons. She loves to draw Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird and the Tazmanian Devil.
``I want to go to art school to be a cartoonist,'' Amber says.
The selection committee felt the design would be more personal if a Windsor Middle student created it, Goffigan says.
The flag, along with Amber's original artwork, will be displayed for several weeks at the Farmers Bank of Windsor for everyone to see. After that, except when being used in parades or at school competitions, the flag will be on permanent display in the school library.
And Goffigan hopes to hold additional contests this year for a school motto and a song.
Please note: Entries should be accompanied by a clear, easy-to-read signature. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Amber Pearson, an 8th-grader at Windsor Middle School, drew the
wildcat.
by CNB