HENDERSON, NEV. – Local high school students recently flexed their decorating skills during Valley Automall’s 15th annual Holiday Tree

Decorating Contest. The event took place on Friday, November 30, inside each of Valley Automall’s 20 dealer showrooms in Henderson.

All entries will remain on display and available for free public viewing through the end of December.   said Valley Automall manager Valorie Staley.

“Students delivered some imaginative and festive holiday designs.""The contest produced some fantastic trees that exemplify school spirit,

teamwork and creativity."

        

        

Centennial High School’s International Club, for example, used colorful school supplies, paper apples and photos for their education-themed

entry: “Teachers Rule.” In addition, a showroom Fiat was temporarily transformed into a school bus, while back packs lined the base of the tree.

Back packs were stuffed with school supplies, which were later donated to William K. Moore Elementary School. Centennial took home first place

and a $3,000 cash prize for their inspirational effort. The tree is currently on display inside Findlay Fiat at 210 N. Gibson Road.

Meanwhile, a Las Vegas Strip inspired tree from Cheyenne High School’s Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America was runner-up.

The team received $2,000 for their brightly decorated creation that featured mega-resort and entertainment-related ornaments. The Family, Career,

and Community Leaders of America will use the prize money to attend state competitions and conduct local group activities. The tree can be viewed

at Henderson Chevrolet at 261 Auto Mall Drive.  

 

 

The second runner-up, however, is being showcased inside Findlay Toyota at 7733 Eastgate Road. Sunrise Mountain High School’s Student

Council received a $1,000 prize for its clever spin on the local television show, “CSI,” which stands for Crime Scene Investigation. Team members

reinterpreted as the acronym as Student Council Investigators or “SCI.” The crime scene display had a holiday twist with a chalk outline of a

murdered snowman with yellow and black caution tape, offset by purple and gold colors decorations. The Sunrise Student Council using the award

money to support several local area charities 

 

 

Twenty schools each received a generous stipend to decorate a 10-foot-tall evergreen tree. Competition entries were judged by a

three-person panel that included: KVVU-TV Fox 5’s personalities Elizabeth Watts and John Dabkovich, and Dr. Nancy Alamo of the

Clark County School District. Additional volunteers included M & M Landscaping’s Martin Mendoza and the College of Southern Nevada’s

 Softball Team Kalei Adams and Savannah Rolston.

 

 

The Valley Automall’s annual event has distributed thousands in cash prizes over the years, aiding underfunded high school extracurricular programs

impacted by the recession. Students use the contest winnings to help defray club travel expenses, purchase equipment and fund school dances,

among other things.The event additionally encourages teamwork and creativity.

 

Valley Automall dealers include Audi Henderson, Chapman Chrysler-Jeep, Courtesy Imports, Courtesy Mazda, Desert BMW,

Desert Pontiac-GMC, Findlay Acura, Findlay Cadillac-Saab, Findlay Fiat, Findlay Honda Henderson, Findlay Lincoln, Findlay Toyota,

Findlay Volkswagen, Ford Country, Henderson Chevrolet, Henderson Nissan, Lexus of Henderson, Mercedes-Benz of Henderson,

and Towbin Dodge.