Six-year-old Grayson Hathaway Mull won Second Place for a picture he drew and submitted to Cooperative Living magazine’s Youth Art Contest, and his winning entry was published in the July edition of the magazine.
Grayson, who is the son of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC) members, Megan and Cody Mull of Boydton, drew a picture of his favorite Ninja Turtle, Leonardo, surfing at the beach. His mom says, “Drawing is one of Grayson’s favorite things to do, along with coloring and creating any type of crafts and artwork.” She adds that he has been obsessed with Ninja Turtles for several years, and his bedroom is filled with Ninja Turtle accessories--sheets, comforters, clothes-- as well as toys, posters, and games.
Grayson’s “Grammy” encouraged him to submit his surfing Ninja picture in the contest. She is Catherine Criste of Drakes Branch, a member of MEC’s sister cooperative, Southside Electric Cooperative, located in Crewe, Virginia.
The contest was open to all children in kindergarten through fifth grade, with three winners selected in each grade category—first, second, and third places. More than 200 student artists entered the annual competition this year, which was judged by staff at the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC), the publisher of Cooperative Living.
Deborah Winn of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative shares the purpose of the contest. “MEC’s associate, VMDAEC, started the Youth Art Contest to encourage youthful creativity and give kids a chance to show their art to the magazine’s readers. The editor of the magazine, Bill Sherrod, mentioned that this year’s judges were impressed with the imagination and talent shown in the students’ work.”
Winn continues, “We encourage Grayson and all children ages kindergarten through fifth grade to enter Cooperative Living’s 17th annual Youth Art Contest next year. First-place winners in each category receive a $25 gift card, and the entry judged Best in Show from all categories receives a $100 gift card and is featured on the cover of the magazine.”
Details on the contest guidelines and instructions for entering will be featured in the January 2019 issue of Cooperative Living as well as on the magazine’s Visit the Cooperative Living Website.
Cooperative Living magazine serves Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative and 11 other member electric cooperatives, with a combined circulation of more than 520,000. With a total readership of more than 1.25 million people, it is the most widely read publication in Virginia. According to an independent survey, the magazine is read by more Virginians than Reader’s Digest, with more than 85 percent reading at least three of the last four issues.