Art student wins ISU Holiday Greeting Card Contest

Idaho State University Master of Fine Art’s student Tim Goodworth’s artistic prowess has struck again: the Blackfoot native has won the ISU Holiday Greeting Card Contest for the second straight year.

 “I really wanted to try to win this one a second time, so I put a lot of effort into it and also entered two paintings into the competition,” Goodworth said

His winning painting, which earns Goodworth a $1,000 prize, graces the official 2007 ISU President’s Holiday Card. This year’s winning entry features a snowy scene with a squirrel on the left in the foreground, and the Administration Building, trees, the U.S. flag and Red Hill in the background.

“There are so many squirrels on campus running around that I thought it would be fun to put one on the card and combine that with the campus square, the Administration Building and Red Hill that are all strong symbols of the campus,” he said. “Overall, I was just trying to capture the festive season with the fun wildlife on campus.”

According to ISU First Lady Laura Vailas, Ph.D., “Goodworth did just that. The committee felt his painting best represented the upbeat mood of the University community.”

Goodworth, 33, is in his second year at ISU. His wife, Heather, is a clinical assistant professor in the ISU Kasiska College of Health Professions School of Nursing. He earned an associate degree in fine arts from Ricks College, now BYU-Idaho, and a bachelor’s degree in painting from Utah State University. His winning card last year was of a wintry scene looking through historic Swanson Arch.

Pre-pharmacy student Jeff Gower of Pocatello finished second in this year’s competition, earning a $500 prize for his efforts. His painting featured Hutchinson Quadrangle and campus buildings with Red Hill in the background.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to participate,” Gower said. “It is really satisfying to have my painting recognized. I really had to be motivated to complete that painting amid all my studies and other obligations.”

The Holiday Greeting Card Contest was created last year as an opportunity to highlight the talents of ISU students. It is an opportunity for ISU students to participate in a juried competition, win prize money, and attain widespread recognition of their work.

The contest was open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Submissions were judged on how well they were able to “capture the spirit and beauty of the holiday season while thematically incorporating the University.”

The Holiday Greeting Card Committee consisted of Vailas, Libby Howe from the ISU University Relations Office, Alumni Relations director Bill Kobus, and ASISU president Jennifer Brown.