Winners announced in Christmas in the Park High School Tree Competition

San Jose, CA- Christmas in the Park’s holiday display is once again in full Christmas spirit and the winners were announced today for the High School Tree Decorating Competition.

Each year the event includes the local high school tree decorating competition. High schools from around Santa Clara County gather at Christmas in the Park during their designated decorating time amidst a flurry of lights, colorful Christmas bulbs and handmade art decorations to decorate their tree with hopes of winning the prize scholarship money for their school.

Each tree had high school students buzzing around putting on decorations, moving them around, taking them off and putting them back on…trying to get just the right look. The efforts this year were outstanding achievements in grand holiday style. There were the traditional Christmas motifs of gingerbread houses, candy canes, elves, Santas and doves, to more unusual motifs such as jungle animals, mushrooms, butterflies and snails.

Each tree was an obvious labor of love and every one in its own right a champion for creativity and effort on the part of each student. Unfortunately, only a few will get take home the prize. The judges who had to make that tough decision this year were Paul Lukes, a local writer, Paul Bernal, a Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge, and Mori Mandis, President, Silicon Valley Concierge Association.
The criteria for the student’s competition, according to Board Member, Heidi Shigematsu, are as follows:

• Originality in design
• Theme appropriate to the event
• Creativity
• Artistic skills
• Use of common materials in a creative and unique manner

The rules include the use of a minimum of 80 weather resistant ornaments, 5 strings of lights (two of which are provided by the city), and a maximum of 5 feet from the trunk of the tree, outward, for any additional decorations. Students had a time limit of just two and half hours to complete the decorating.

This year’s winners saw some repeats with Pioneer, Lincoln and Branham each winning yet again with their creative entries. Beating out both Lincoln and Pioneer this year is first place winner in the art related category, Central County Occupational Center’s Interior Design Class. In the non-art category the first place honor went to James Lick Athletic Booster Club.

2009 Winners List Christmas in the Park High School Tree Competition

Category A (Art Related)
$400 First Place: Tree #705 Central County Occupational Center (Interior Design Class)
$300 Second Place : Tree #721 Pioneer High School (National Art Honor Society)
$200 Third Place: Tree #735 Lincoln High School (National Art Honor Society)

Category B (Non-Art Related)
$400 First Place: Tree #713 James Lick High School (Athletic Booster Club)
$300 Second Place: Tree #730 Yerba Buena High School (Latino Club)
$200 Third Place: Tree #700 Branham High School (Best Buddies Program)

2008 Winners

Category A
1st- Pioneer High School
2-Arch Bishop Middy High School
3-Lincoln High School

Category B
1st- Oak Grove High School
2nd- Valley Christiuan High School
3- Branham High School

Congratulations to all the schools for their fine efforts and congratulations to this years winners!

List of Schools in this year’s Christmas in the Park High School Tree competition:
List of Schools in this year’s Christmas in the Park High School Tree competition:
American High School Asian Pacific Islander Club Group B
Ann Sobrato High School Sobrato FFA Group B:
Archbishop Mitty Group A:
Bellarmine College Preparatory Bellarmine National Honor Society Group B
Central County Occupational Center Interior Design Class Group A
Cupertino High School Art Club Group A
ESUHSD Post Senior P-8 Tims Group B
ESUHSD Post Senior P-15 Barnes Group B
ESUHSD Post Senior P-16 Gow Group B
ESUHSD Post Senior Group B
Evergreen Valley High School African American Student Union Group B
Gunderson High School Polynesian Club Group B
Independence High School SpaceTech Engineering Group B
James Lick High School Athletic Booster Club Group B
James Lick High School Group B
Leland High School Leland High School ASB Group A:
Leland High School National Art Honor Society Group A
Lincoln High School National Art Honor Society Group A
Live Oak High School Morgan Hill FFA Group B
Milpitas High School A Single Light Club Group B
Pegasus High School Student Body Group B
Piedmont Hills High School LASO- Latin American Student Organization Group B
Pioneer High School National Art Honor Society Group A
San Jose High Academy Cinco de Mayo Group B
San Jose High Academy International Baccalaureate Advocacy Group Group B
San Jose High Academy Art and ASB Group A
Silver Creek High School Cheer Team Group B
Silver Creek High School Art Club Group A
Valley Christian High School Club Interact Group B
Wilcox High School New Life Campus Outreach Club Group B
Yerba Buena High School Art and Photo Club Group A
Yerba Buena High School Latino Club Group B
Yerba Buena High School Project ROAR Group B
Yerba Buena High School Green Club Group B
Yerba Buena High School Health Club Group B