news-record.com

When local children go to the polls to vote in the Kids Voting program Tuesday, fourth-grader Niki Haislip will be giving them a hand.

The 9-year-old Colfax Elementary student's handprint graces the T-shirts that Kids Voting volunteers are wearing.

Haislip, the daughter of Dale Bruce and Laura Haislip of Colfax, won first place in this year's Kids Voting T-shirt design contest. The theme of the contest was "What Democracy Looks Like to Me."

"I entered because it sounded fun, and I love art, drawing and coloring," Niki said.

Niki came up with the slogan "the Future Vote is OURS!" and completed the design with her handprint in red, white and blue. Her winning design is featured on the back of 2,500 shirts that will be worn by volunteers at the Kids Voting polls on Tuesday.

"The judges liked the clean design, the implication that the hand is one being raised by a young person saying 'Count me in,' the message on the shirt and the lettering," said Pat Vreeland, executive director of Kids Voting -- Guilford County.

Niki received $50 and a ribbon for her efforts and was recognized, along with division winners and runners-up, during a reception Oct. 19.

Niki wants to purchase a cooking play set with her winnings.

"It's so I can practice because I want to become a cook, or maybe," she said, pausing a few seconds, "I might want to become an artist."

"This contest is a way to recognize area students and make them more aware of and involved in the Kids Voting program in a different fashion than through Social Studies," Vreeland said.

Kids Voting -- Guilford County is the local associate of Kids Voting USA and Kids Voting North Carolina. A private, nonprofit, nonpartisan voter education and civic participation program, its goal is to increase informed voter participation by teaching students about the election process and by encouraging them to become lifetime voters who are involved in their community.

On Election Day, students can go with their families to the adult polling sites, where they vote for the same candidates and issues that appear on the adult ballot. Ballots are tabulated, and results are reported to the media.

"Good citizens and responsible voters aren't born, they're made, and it takes practice," Vreeland said of Kids Voting. "I think that learning about the importance of informed voting, democracy, how government works and how to be a responsible and contributing citizen are critical lessons for young people if we are to maintain our democratic form of government."

All 795 of this year's entries were displayed for a week in the Greensboro Cultural Center.

The contest was open to all area students in grades K through 12.

Division winners were:

• kindergarten through second grade: Jack Rogers, second grade, Colfax Elementary
• Third through fifth grade: Harrison Kiser, fifth grade, Irving Park Elementary
• Middle school: Erica Perine, seventh grade, The Academy at Lincoln
• High School: Kenya Smith, ninth grade, GTCC Early College

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown@news-record.com.