2009 Graceful Envelope Contest Winners

The Graceful Envelope Contest, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and administered by the Washington Calligraphers Guild, congratulates this year's winning artists. Out of close to 150 entries received, 12 were selected as "Winners" (with one judged "Best in Show") and 18 were given the distinction "Honorable Mention" in the contest's adult division. The judges also selected student winners from 250 entries in the junior and children's divisions.

This year's theme was Address the Environment. Entrants were urged to design an envelope that promotes the preservation of our natural world and address it artistically. A trio of judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme.

The 2009 contest was juried by: professional calligrapher Sammy Little, whose clients include the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court and the National Gallery of Art; Marta Legeckis, professional calligrapher and illustrator whose clients include the Department of State, the White House and the Department of the Interior; and Jane Broendel, secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

The contest was created in 1995 by the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum, which administered it until delegating responsibility to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. Beginning in 2003, the National Association of Letter Carriers agreed to partner with the Washington Calligraphers Guild to sponsor the contest. In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together and serves as a reminder that the people who deliver the mail are career government employees who take pride in their work and care about the communities they serve.

The 2009 adult division winner and honorable mention envelopes will be on display in the lobby of the National Association of Letter Carriers headquarters building, 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001 from approximately Oct. 1, 2009 to September 1, 2010. Open to the public free of charge Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8-6 Eastern time, the building is located near Union Station and the U.S. Capitol, at the intersection of First and C Streets NW. View map. If you need further information about visiting the exhibit, call 202-662-2851 or email.

View the 2009 winning Graceful Envelopes

Thumbnails of winning Adult Division entries:
Winners
Honorable Mention

Student Competition:
Junior (Grades 7-12)
Child (Grades 1-6)

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2009 Graceful Envelope Contest:

ADULT DIVISION

Best in Show:
Gerry Jackson Kerdok--Hudson, MA

Winners: 
Kathy D. Barker--Bellevue, WA
Gloria Eckart--Plantation, FL
Linae Frei--Scottsdale, AZ
Joan Gooderham--Fort Erie, ON, Canada
Julie Gray--Sandia Park, NM
Marilyn Gray--Newberry, FL
Maria M. Hyer--Plymouth Meeting, PA
Margaret Kubisch--Nuriootpa, S. Australia
Elizabeth Nuttle--Brooklandville, MD
Petra Pusl--Niederaichbach, Germany
Judy Rinks--Jacksonville, FL

Honorable Mentions:
Shirlee DiBacco--Voorhees, NJ
Karen Dilbeck--Montgomery, AL
Carol DuBosch--Portland, OR
Jane Ewing--Grand Haven, MI
Audrey Kincaid--Boise, ID
Tiffany Laws--Duvall, WA
Betty Locke--Duncan, BC, Canada
Marion McKenzie--Hampshire, England
Martha Noonan--Boise, ID
Jill Norvell--Reston, VA
Vello Paluoja--Parnu, Estonia
Sally Penley--Olympia, WA
Carole Sauter--Kent, WA
Yumie Tanaka--Kashiwa, Japan
Angela Tingle--Buena Vista, CO
Myrlin von Glahn--Rocky River, OH
Lynn Zakevich--South Miami, FL
Luce H. Zolna--Chicago, IL

JUNIOR DIVISION

Winners:
Hannah Black--Bakersfield, CA
Koral Dadon--Encino, CA
Leah Ellyson--Carolina, WV
Sharon Franko--Sherman Oaks, CA
Talia Gabbai--Los Angeles, CA
Shoshie Hammer--Los Angeles, CA
Shlomit Harel--Sherman Oaks, CA
Stephanie Lamb--Highland, IN
Aliza Latta--Dundas, ON, Canada
Rinat Liberman--Valley Village, CA
Aliza Rich--Los Angeles, CA
Hannah Robin--Agoura Hills, CA
Deena Rosenblatt--Valley Village, CA
Sara Shamtoob--Tarzana, CA
Tahlia Silverman--Oak Park, CA
Sushmita Sridhar--Los Altos, CA
Abbie Tingle--Buena Vista, CO
Ariela Tzion--North Hollywood, CA
Jake White--Hartsel, CO
Sahar Zafarmehr--Encino, CA

CHILDREN’S DIVISION

Winners:
Clara Beutel--St. Louis, MO
Mark Michael Chester--Jersey City, NJ
Katelyn Christian--Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Madison Crenshaw--St. Louis, MO
Mariana de Molano--Miami, FL
Lauren Fahmy--Wilmette, IL
Katia Fernandez--Miami, FL
Kate Hoynacki--St. Louis, MO
Jared Lane--Hartsel, CO
Eva Lewis--Buena Vista, CO
Julianna Lewis--Buena Vista, CO
Isaac Parker--Astoria, NY
Carson Rice--Hoboken, NJ
Bryan Somers--Lake Zurich, IL
Sallie Tucker--Buena Vista, CO
Maryam Zaffer--Lombard, IL

Graceful Envelope logo by Gini Ogle

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