ST. CROIX — A group of lower school students from St. Croix Country Day School donated funds they earned from a national art contest to the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCArts) during a presentation Monday on their school campus.

Some of the students had previously participated in an art workshop at CMCArts in 2008, which was conducted by Arroyo Rivas, who was an artist in residence.

Fifth-grader Nick Colon, 10, was one of the students who participated in the contest and the workshop. He received an honorable mention for the month of January in the contest. After visiting the museum during his field trip last year, Colon said the students learned the art museum was running low on funds. He said the students wanted to donate to the art museum because they assumed it was still struggling.

"We thought it was a good way to help they're budget," he said.

Daphne Rodriguez, CMCArts treasurer, accepted the donation from the students Monday.

"It makes me feel great that the students enjoyed coming to the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, and I look forward to using this money for scholarships to bring the students back to the museum," Rodriguez said.

The students, third and fifth-graders from Cynthia Hatfield's art class, participated in an art contest sponsored by Art-Stamps, an organization which turns children's original drawings into U.S. postage stamps for fund-raising purposes. The CDS students donated $651 they raised during the contest to the Frederiksted art museum.

"I'm very proud of them, they did their very best," Hatfield said. "A lot of the students did wonderful work."

All of Hatfield's art students from third grade and fifth grade entered original pieces of artwork into the contest. The third graders drew their images in pencil before filling in color with markers. The fifth-graders drew their images in pencil before filling in color with paint.

After the students enter their artwork. Artstamps selects a theme for each month. If a student’s piece of art matches the theme for a specific month, they are selected to compete in the contest for that month. All of the CDS students submitted a variety of drawings. If their drawings match an upcoming theme later this year, they will have an opportunity to win more prizes as individuals will be able to vote for them. An overall winner is eventually selected for the annual contest as well.

Fifth-grader Maggie Zumwalt, 11, won first prize for the annual 2008 contest in the category for 10 to 12-year-old students for her silhouette drawing of a horse standing amidst a tree with birds flying above in the sky.

"I drew it in pencil first, and then I painted over it in black," Maggie Zumwalt said, indicating it took her a long time to finish as she worked on it during art class and recess.

As the annual contest winner for 2008, Maggie Zumwalt won $500.

"I'm pretty amazed because I've never had that much money before and it's pretty exciting to be chosen over a lot of other people," she said, indicating her parents haven't yet decided what she will be allowed to do with her winnings.

Third-grader Matthew Low, 8, was the runner-up in the annual 2008 contest. He received $50 for his drawing of a'ladybug shown under a magnifying glass.

Third-grader Alexandra Starr, 8, received an honorable mention for the annual 2008 contest. Colon received an honorable mention for January.

All of the students received their artwork in a frame, as well as a letter from the president of ArtStamps. Their artwork is also on display on the ArtStamps collectible page.

Additionally, fifth-grader CliftonLambert, 10, and third-grader Emerson Zumwalt, 8, were selected as potential winners for January. There artwork is currently online for individuals to vote.

Lambert drew a picture of airplanes flying in a red and yellow sky, while Emerson Zumwalt drew a picture of a helicopter flying through white clouds. Lambert and Emerson Zumwalt are still competing in the contest to become a finalist. Individuals can vote for them once a day via the Internet. The votes must be received before the end of the month.

"You can vote more than once for your favorite stamp, and buying a stamp counts as a vote," Hatfield said.

Only 50 students a year, from age groups ranging between six and 18 years old, are selected to have their artwork transformed into a stamp. Art-Stamps believes that artistic expression and creativity is an academic building block that boosts self-esteem for children of all ages, according to a press release.

Based on a monthly theme ArtStamps posts the besl stamp designs as limited-edition collectibles. Individuals may vote for their favorite collectible stamps and buy them. Any stamps purchased from ArtStamps will raise money foi that artist's school or organization.

Votes and purchases help artists qualify for the National Artistic Achievement Award. The stamp with the most votes each month will automatically qualify as a semi-finalist.

Individuals interested in either voting for Lambert and Emerson Zumwalt or purchasing stamps, as well as having their own original artwork turned into a stamp can do so by visiting the ArtStamps Web site at www.myartstamps.com. Additionally, artwork from all of the CDS students who participated in the contest can be seen at www.myspiritstamps.com/stcroix.