October 20, 2006

The Woodlands Wildflower Festival Poster Contest Winners Announced 

The Woodlands Wildflower Festival poster contest winners proudly display their artwork as executives from The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC) and The Woodlands Lions Club congratulate them. Left to right: Lorrie Parise, marketing manager for TWDC; Taylor Turner, first place age 8-13 category; Gina Popolizio, grand prize poster contest winner and first place teenage category; Susan Vreeland-Wendt, director of marketing for TWDC who is displaying Madison Hefner’s artwork (first place winner 0-7 years old); and Cindy Tice, The Woodlands Lions Club event chairperson and board member, who is displaying Kerstin Lord’s artwork (grand prize tee shirt winner and first place winner in the adult category).

There were 47 aspiring artists, ranging in age from 14 ½ months to 88 years old, who competed in the annual poster contest for The Woodlands Wildflower Festival, a popular traditional event set for Saturday, October 28, 2006 from 10 am until 2 pm at Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center. Gina Popolizio, Kerstin Lord, Madison Hefner and Taylor Turner were the first place winners in the contest, according to Susan Vreeland-Wendt, director of marketing for The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC). 

Gina Popolizio, age 15, of Spring, Texas won first place in the 14-18 year old category and took the grand prize as the poster winner. Popolizio’s artwork will become the official Wildflower Festival poster that will be sold by The Woodlands Lions Club at the event. Popolizio’s work is a pop art rendition of bold, colorful wildflowers, each set in a square. She wins a $300 prize.

Kerstin Lord of The Woodlands, Texas was the first place winner in the adult category and wins $300. Lord’s colored pencil artwork depicts a deep blue sky, a prancing butterfly and a sun setting on an assortment of wildflowers. Her entry will be used on the official tee-shirt sold by The Woodlands Lions Club at the event. 

Taking second place in the adult category was Teresa Popolizio of Spring, Gina’s mother. Shannon Allman of The Woodlands took third place. 

The winner of the $100 prize in the age 8-13 category is 13-year old Taylor Turner of The Woodlands, Texas. Taylor’s artwork is entitled “Petal Jig” and includes the Texas Bluebonnet and Indian Paint Brush wildflowers. Aashika Kushwaha of The Woodlands won second place, and Hannah Seay won third place in this category. 

In the youngest category, up to seven years, Madison Hefner of Magnolia, Texas won $100 for her drawing of the sun shining on a row of wildflowers as butterflies frolic among the flowers. Hefner, whose brother Nolan Hefner won last year in this category, is five years old.

Baby Rafe Nobles of The Woodlands took second place with his collage of modern wildflowers. At 14 ½ months, Rafe is the youngest participant ever in the poster contest, Vreeland-Wendt said. Five-year old Mila Johnston took third place in this category. Both Johnston and Seay (third place, 8-13 year old category) were among many students who participated from The Harvest School, a developing Waldorf School, located in The Woodlands. 

The merchants at Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center, the Community Associations of The Woodlands and The Woodlands Development Company are the presenting sponsors of the festival. The Brickman Group, Ltd., a local landscaping company, is the participating sponsor. Proceeds from the tee-shirt and poster sales benefit The Woodlands Lions Club.

At the event, 20 different varieties of free wildflower seeds will be distributed by local businesses. Also featured will be informative landscaping and environmental exhibits, native plants and gift items for sale, a free petting zoo and pony rides, Puffy’s Kids ‘N Nature Costume Contest, balloon artist, face painting, food and family fun. 

The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.