The artistic abilities of Harris County High School’s Cody Moore and Mary Clark have earned them statewide recognition as well as scholarship money to help offset future educational expenses. Moore, a junior, won first place in the Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week Art contest while senior Mary Clark earned the third place award. The students were honored at a MAW luncheon at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta Thursday with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and approximately 1,000 attendees from the manufacturing sector, area Chambers of Commerce and other partners. Students from around the state submitted design entries featuring Georgia manufacturers and their products.

For his first place win in the high school category, Cody Moore received a $500 scholarship check presented by Gov. Nathan Deal. Moore won second place in the same grouping in 2015.

“I drew a map of Georgia and tried to find all of the company’s locations,” said Moore in reference to his winning design. “I mapped out where everything is, like Coca Cola in Atlanta, Aflac in Columbus, Kia in West Point, and so on.”

For her third place win, Mary Clark will receive a $100 scholarship check.

“Manufacturing hints at the whole blueprint idea, so I incorporated the Georgia companies into one big blueprint,” Clark said of her design.

President of Columbus Technical College Lorette M. Hoover says this kind of challenge to art students is a great way to build on the importance of the manufacturing industry in Georgia.

“Manufacturing is alive and well in Georgia,” Hoover said. “The MAW art contest is a great way to include our K-12 partners and students in the celebration, and to educate them regarding the many high-tech and rewarding careers available. The manufacturing industry relies more and more on advanced technologies so who better to engage than creative and technology-savvy young people.”

Columbus Technical College held its own art contest from the dozens of submissions received. Chamber of Commerce officials, area business partners and Columbus Tech faculty and staff helped select their favorites. Winners from each grade category (K-5th, 6-8th and 9-12th) across the six-county service area will be honored at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast in June. The manufacturers that represented our area will be honored as well. They are: Oneda, Kodak, and Pratt & Whitney.

“Columbus Technical College has such a vital partnership with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce,” Hoover said. “While this particular task didn’t entail training workers or bringing in a new corporation today, it is still vitally important to plant a seed with our young people – the future workforce. We’d like to thank the Chamber for all their support and help in this process.”

This marked the 22nd year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia. The awards luncheon was co-hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. MAW brings attention to this significant component of Georgia’s economy. According to Gov. Nathan Deal’s proclamation declaring Manufacturing Appreciation Week, nearly 9,456 manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia, and they provide 364,724 jobs, generating nearly $20.1 billion in wages for Georgia’s citizens and contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy each year.