News Release
For Immediate Release

Will Appear as cover of 2014 Summertastic Youth Guide

SHERMAN, MAY 5, 2014 – Dr. Susan Thomas, Executive Director of Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) announced today the winner of the Hot Fun in the Summertime Youth Art Contest. The winning entry, “Fun in the Sun,” was submitted by Jacobi Lucchese, a 7th grader at Texoma Christian Academy.

As the Grand Prize winner, Lucchese’s art work will grace the cover of TCOG’s annual 2-1-1 publication, Summertastic! Texoma Youth Guide. The guide will be distributed during the month of May to more than 70 thousand families in the region. “With 118 entries from 5th, 6th and 7th graders across Texoma, the judges had a lot of art to review, but after looking at all those entries, there was no question in anyone’s mind which one would get the cover. Jacobi’s work really stood out; it’s obvious he is a very talented artist, and we’re lucky to have his work on our cover.” Thomas stated.

The panel of judges included Lisa Avila, artist and Executive Director of the Bonham Creative Art Center, Allison Minton, TCOG Client Services Department Director, Betty Kay Schlesinger, Director of Social Services at Salvation Army, as well as Kim Williams and Neva Damron of the Frame Team.

The first and second runner up selections will also be featured in the guide. The first runner-up is 5th grader Matthew Tan from Gainesville, TX with the entry entitled, “Summer is Awesome as a Dragon” and second runner-up, 6th grader Javier Garcia with the entry entitled, “Hot Fun in the Summer Time.”

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties. Established in 1968, the Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Either directly, or through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.