Press Releases
“What My Home Means To Me” 2003 Coloring /Essay Contest Announces Winners” - 2/5/2004
[Columbia, SC] The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority announced the winners of the “What My Home Means To Me” Coloring and Essay Contest today at the Palmetto Affordable Housing Forum held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Columbia.
Jakayla Goodman, six-year-old daughter of Dana Lyons of Greenville, and Deja Gardner, twelve year old daughter of Courtney Gardner of Greenwood tied for first place in the artwork category. Eight-year-old Tatyana Murphy, daughter of Thasa Lighty of Bishopville, won first place in the essay portion of the contest.
Charles I. Small, chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the South Carolina State Housing Authority presented Jakayla, Deja and Tatyana with $200 savings bonds and bicycles with helmets and kneepads. They received framed certificates and an educational packet earlier by mail to coincide with the holidays.
Jakayla’s artwork showed a house with a purple roof, curtains in the windows, colorful flowers in the yard, and hearts floating around the house. Deja’s artwork reflected a bright yellow house with blue shutter and a bright sun overhead. In her award winning essay, Tatyana thanked the SC State Housing Authority for giving her a nice place to live and wrote in prose style "Home is more than walls, windows and floors-inch by inch it is filled with memories of times gone by. It is about laughter, tears and smiles.”
For the first time in the history of the contest, the judges liked the artwork and essay from one contestant, so they voted to give an award in both categories to one entry. Deja also placed as first place in the essay portion. She wrote “my home means a lot of things to me…. it was really crowded before I got my new home and now I have my own room. I also have a park and community center near by.” Twelve-year-old Vincent Martin, son of Gladys Martin of Beaufort, received second place in the essay category. Vincent wrote "A home is about having a place to live with your family…having a family to love and a place where you can always be happy.”
Second place winners received $100 savings bonds, a karaoke machine, a framed certificate, and educational packages. “Seeing the pictures and reading the essays of these children is a reminder of the importance of our work in providing safe, decent, and affordable housing to the people of our state,” said Small. “When you realize what having a roof over their heads and a warm place to sleep means to these children, it makes all of our hard work worthwhile.”
This year we gave a Special Talent award for outstanding work. Sharell McCoy, twelve year old daughter of Rosetta McCoy of Bishopville, is the recipient this year. Sharelle drew a red brick house with a white porch and shutters. A smiling bright sun winks overhead. Sharelle will receive a $50 savings bond for her outstanding work.
Honorable mention recognition was awarded to: Samantha Bendt, daughter of Cheryl Bendt of Hanahan; Bridget Gayle, daughter of Mevia L. Gayle of Sumter; James and Elizabeth Davis, son and daughter of Janie R. Davis of Easley; Jessie Leigh Eller, daughter of Roberta Eller of Spartanburg; Tayla Freeman daughter of Narvias Freeman of Cayce; India McKee, daughter of Jerri Lowe of Gaffney; Demarcus D. Moore, son of Melissa Small of Winnsboro; Kasey Lorraine Weatherly, daughter of Mary G. Weatherly of Lexington; Darius McFadden, son of Bridgetta McFadden of Columbia; Granison and Niasia Peterson, son and daughter of Cynthia James of Manning; Tevin B. Belk, son of Erica A. Belk of Winnsboro; Leon Tervaris Brock, III, son of Margie A. Whitfield of Manning; Nicole Burgess, daughter of Judith Burgess of Easley; Damien Crosley, son of Mogdalene Johnson of Anderson; Rebecka Ellis, daughter of Angelina Nation of Summerville; Meme English, daughter of Shanita and Roia English of Columbia; Ricky Fant, son of Kathy Fant of Anderson; Prasjna Gardner, daughter of Courtney Gardner of Greenville; Unique Frazier, Dezire and Diamond Paulk, daughters of Jay Frazier of Summerville; Berrick and Tony Johnson, sons of Aifa Johnson of Summerville; Darien Johnson, son of Amy Johnson of Anderson; John (Jeonghyun) Lim, son of Jaejoo Lim of Easley; Adriana McCray, daughter of Pamie Smiling of Manning; Christopher McKinney, son of Bernice McKinney of Manning; Kristania and Moses McKnight, daughter and of Carol B. Lybrand of Columbia; Shanae Pound, daughter of Sharon Pounds of Easley; Chapelle Primus, daughter of Lenna Primus of Summerville; Allen Omon Robinson, son of Margaret Cowan of Anderson; Sharena Sharpe, daughter of Inez Sharpe of Manning; Isaac and Izel Shiver, sons of Natalie Sease of Columbia;
Abolarin and Fayola Shongotosin, daughters of Ruby Copeland of Anderson; and Jessica M. Ware, daughter of Ellen S. Estrich of Anderson.
The “What My Home Means To Me” Coloring/Essay Contest began in 1992 when the National Council of State Housing Agencies asked state housing authorities to participate in a campaign to give Mortgage Revenue Bonds and the Housing Credit program permanent status.
The South Carolina contest, now in its twelth year, is offered to children of families who have been helped into better housing situations through the Authority’s many housing programs.
Persons interested in homeownership and housing assistance programs in South Carolina can contact the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority in Columbia at (803) 734-2000 or visit our website at www.sha.state.sc.us. Persons with hearing impairments may use the authority’s TTY number (803) 734-2369.
The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority is a self-supporting agency of state government and operates at no cost to the taxpayers of South Carolina.
Equal Housing Opportunity