First grader wins Fire Prevention Week Art Contest
Contributed by
Richland School
District One

The Richland One Board of School Commissioners recently honored Caroline Amrol of Brockman Elementary, who won the National Fire Prevention Week Art Contest sponsored by the district's Visual and Performing Arts Department and the Columbia Fire Department. Shown with Caroline during the October 10 board meeting are (from left): David Amrol, Caroline's father; Tom Dimig, her art teacher; Richland One Superintendent Allen Coles; and Board Vice Chairman Dwayne Smiling.

Richland One congratulates Caroline Amrol, a first-grader at Brockman Elementary School, who won first place in the National Fire Prevention Week Art Contest sponsored by the district's Visual and Performing Arts Department and the Columbia Fire Department.

The first-time contest was held to educate children and their families about safe practices with fire through visual art. This year's theme was "Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat!"

For winning the contest, Caroline was invited to ride on a fire truck in the Fire Prevention Week Parade down Main Street. In addition, a fire truck will pick her up from home and take her to school, where firefighters will eat breakfast with her and the other youngsters at Brockman. Her artwork will be on display at the Columbia Fire Department Museum at CFD headquarters on Laurel Street through the winter holidays.

Keshawn Gant, a fourth-grader at Watkins--Nance Elementary, won second place in the art contest and Ashley Stone, a third-grader at Meadowfield Elementary, was the third-place winner.

The winning artwork of the three talented students is being displayed during the South Carolina State Fair at the fire prevention booth in the Hampton Building.

National Fire Prevention Week was observed October 8-14.