The Tablet newspaper, in collaboration with the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus, is proud to announce the 2014 Keep Christ in Christmas Art Contest winners.

Over 700 young artists from throughout Brooklyn and Queens, ranging from first to 12th grade, submitted entries visualizing their interpretations of the theme, Keep Christ in Christmas. Unique paintings, drawings, dioramas, sculptures and collages came from Catholic schools, religious education programs and individual homes.

Members of The Tablet editorial staff along with an artists, an educator and a communications person from DeSales Media Group, Inc., the parent company of The Tablet, voted on the entries. The works of art with the most votes won. Those who came in close received certificates of honorable mention through the mail. The judges considered artistic ability, originality and most in importantly adherence to the theme. (Slideshows and video: See the winning and honorable-mention entries)

The winners were invited to a special ceremony at the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council, where they received medals, certificates and cash prizes, courtesy of the Knights.

Parents, guardians and educators can make arrangements to pick up student art work by calling 718-517-3132 or by sending an email to azielinska@desalesmedia.org by March 11.

The Tablet thanks parents, teachers, principals, mentors and all those who encouraged students in creating religious artwork. The Tablet also thanks all participating students for their time and talents given to help God’s people come into a deeper understanding of the mystery of Christmas.

The next art contest will be the Christ is Risen Art Contest. Details will follow shortly on the Youth Page.

Winners

First Grade — Sarha’ Grace Osias, Midwood Catholic Academy

Second Grade — Rachel Alexandre, Mary Queen of Heaven School, Old Mill Basin

Third Grade — David Gibson, Midwood Catholic Academy

Fourth Grade — Maya Vazquez, Mary Queen of Heaven School

Fifth Grade — Madeline Parchment, St. Ephrem, Dyker Heights

Sixth Grade — Sophia Wang, St. Matthias School, Ridgewood

Seventh Grade — Amayah Domingue, Mary Queen of Heaven School

Eighth Grade — Nina Kropf, Kimberly Loyer and Valeria Martinez, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, Forest Hills

High School First Place — Jonnie Nicosia, St. Agnes A.H.S., College Point

High School Second Place — Selina Lum, Bishop Kearney H.S., Bensonhurst

High School Third Place — ZhengFeng Jane Shan, Bishop Kearney H.S., Bensonhurst

Honorable Mentions

First Grade — Briannie Cabrera, St. Matthias; Anastasia Chabanov, Our Lady of Grace School, Gravesend; Samantha Farley, St. Patrick Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge

Second Grade — Jesse Vasquez, Resurrection Ascension parish, Rego Park; Aiden Lim, Holy Child Jesus Church, Richmond Hill; Lauren Mandala, St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor

Third Grade — Michael Grum, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Dyker Heights; Natasia Shivers, St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy, Greenpoint; Gabriela D’Ambrosio, St. Stanislaus Kostka School, Maspeth

Fourth Grade — Janelle Massena, Mary Queen of Heaven School

Fifth Grade — JoShua Collado, Ave Maria Catholic Academy, Howard Beach; Samantha Campo, St. Bernadette, Dyker Heights; Jenna Muraglia, St. Andrew Avellino School, Flushing

Sixth Grade — Ava Shannon, St. Bernadette; Anna Bolino, Holy Angels Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge; Julianna Apodiacos, St. Bernadette

Seventh Grade — Alexis Talavera, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy, Woodhaven; Agatha Gidi, St. Sebastian School, Woodside; Nora Gurung, St. Sebastian School

Eighth Grade — Victoria Cherichette, St. Anselm Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge; Gina LiCalzi, St. Luke School, Whitestone; Ekaterina Skorniakova, St. Sebastian School

High School — Kayla Alarcon, St. Agnes A.H.S.; Carrie Guan, Bishop Kearney H.S.; Ricardo Tomala; Msgr. McClancy M.H.S., East Elmhurst; Gabriella DeRosa, Bishop Kearney H.S.