MOUNT VERNON — March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and that gave the Knox County community an opportunity to create awareness, learn more about inclusion, and share in the stories of individuals who live, work, and thrive in the county.
While the Knox County Board of DD and its various provider agency partners are active year-round in providing service and support for those with developmental disabilities, March is a particularly fun time to highlight the important roles that individuals with developmental disabilities have within the fabric of the Knox County community.
The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities hosted its 10th annual Coloring and Essay Contest for all Knox County elementary schools. There were 815 students who participated in the coloring (K-2nd grades) and essay (3rd-5th grades) contests, with 102 classrooms participating countywide. Students represented 13 elementary schools in Knox County.
The winners of this year’s coloring contest (K-2nd grades) are:
–Eden Taylor (Fredericktown)
–Olivia Legros (East Knox)
–Jurnee Slayton (Columbia)
–Mateo Rodriguez De La Cruz (Pleasant St.)
–Will Lybarger (East)
–Verity Sapp (Danville)
–Emmaline McKnight (Dan Emmett)
–Adalyn Cooley (Twin Oak)
–Eva Gray (Centerburg)
–Hunter Mugabe (St. Vincent de Paul)
–Remi Sockman (Wiggin St.)
–Blaine Escalante (7th Day Adventist)
–Kera-Lynn Ramey (Learning Center).
The winners of this year’s essay contest (3rd-5th grades) are:
–Clara Spearman (Fredericktown)
–Gunnar Brunson (Columbia)
–Josie Calkins (Pleasant St.)
–Emerson Thomas Garn (East)
–Ravlynn Smith (Danville)
–Addie Upton (Twin Oak)
–Claire Weade (Centerburg)
–Evie Lawrence (Wiggin St.)
–Stevie Sutton-Fowler (7th Day Adventist)
–Noah Fisher (Learning Center).
Also, congratulations to Lauren Martin from East Elementary for winning the teacher classroom prize this year.