SAUGUS — State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) announced on Friday the winner of the holiday-card competition among the town’s third graders.
“For this age — the third graders — it’s a great way for them to express themselves, in particular around the holiday season, whether it’s messages of hope or joy or family or community or peace,” said Crighton.
The holiday-card competition started when Crighton was still a state representative. He said the idea was to start an opportunity to highlight the talented students in the district. Each year a new school from Crighton’s district will be selected for this contest, and this year it was Saugus’s Belmonte STEAM Academy.
Orly Diaz was the winner of the contest. She designed her holiday card with a snowman on the cover, and a sled of gifts at the right lower corner.
“Orly is very artistic, very creative, thinks outside the box, pays attention to every detail,” said the teacher of the Belmonte STEAM Academy Jennifer Nicolo. Since she got an email from the senator, she started asking her students, whom she considered amazing artists, to prepare for their artwork.
Diaz’s design was selected because, “Orly’s colorful and imaginative drawing captures the beauty and joy of the holiday season.”
Every student from the class got one copy of the postcard and cheered for Diaz.
Crighton then did a Q&A with the young students. Students were curious about his job as a senator, and their hands keep raising to ask another question. They asked Crighton questions such as, “what is a senator? How many years have you been a senator? Do you work every day?”
Crighton explained to one student that he studied government and political science in college, “I did that in undergrad and then did some more for my masters.” He added that politicians have other college majors besides political science.
One student asked what specific law he helped make. Crighton answered that he was a part of a law that would alleviate housing and unemployment issues during the pandemic. According to him, the established law could protect and let people stay in their homes.
Crighton wrapped up the discussion by encouraging students to read. Reading is a big part of his job. He said to the third graders, “no matter what you want to do in life, no matter what it is, enjoy reading.”
