Idaho State University announces Dylan Childress as 2015 holiday greeting card contest winner, Justin Anderson runner-up

POCATELLO — Dylan Childress, a senior majoring in art at Idaho State University, won a $1,000 prize for his winning holiday card design that will appear on the front of ISU’s official 2015 holiday greeting card.

The design was one of 11 submissions in the annual ISU President’s Holiday Greeting Card Contest.

“I’m a landscape artist, so my mind always goes to landscape scenes,” Childress said. “With the guidelines they wanted artists to incorporate, I immediately thought of Holt Arena. It’s probably the most recognizable ISU icon and the snow gives you that seasonal feeling.”

Childress has submitted designs for the contest for three consecutive years, winning second prize in both 2013 and 2014.

ISU student Justin Anderson, a senior majoring in physics, took home a $500 prize for his second prize-winning submission. His design was of a Bengal tiger in the snow.

“I wanted something simple and it was holiday-themed so I chose something that encompassed the holiday season rather than just Christmas or another specific holiday,” Anderson said. “To incorporate the ISU theme, I felt that a tiger was a good way to go.”

The ISU President’s Holiday Greeting Card Contest was created by ISU First Lady Laura Vailas and began in 2006. Prize money and printing costs for the contest are provided by a donor each year.

The contest is open to full-time and part-time ISU students and is judged by a committee comprised of representatives from the President’s Office, alumni relations, marketing and communications, Associated Students of ISU and the art department.

Submissions were judged on how well they were able to “capture the spirit and beauty of the holiday season while thematically incorporating ISU” as well as other secondary factors decided by the committee after the top designs were determined.

“As a fine arts student, I need to build my portfolio and ISU provides me, and all of its students, with such a great opportunity to do that with this contest,” Childress said. “It’s about credibility and I really appreciate it, it’s a great opportunity.”