St. Ursula fifth-grader wins national poster contest February 22, 2022By Gerry Jackson Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools Hawk Lance, a fifth-grade student at St. Ursula School in Parkville, won a national award for the Keeping Christ in Christmas poster contest sponsored by the Catholic War Veterans. Hawk’s poster, which centered on his theme, “Without Christ, there is no Christmas,” earned him first place in the local competition, sponsored by CWV Auxiliary Post No. 766, and was forwarded to state and national competitions. Hawk earned $75 for his local win and then $100 for his national prize. St. Ursula School in Parkville held an in-class presentation Feb. 7 with Catholic War Veterans Maryland Commander Gilbert Barker, right, and Hawk Lance’s family, from left, father Mike Lance, sister Ruby Lance and mother Anna Lance. (Courtesy St. Ursula School) His artwork was part of a homework assignment given by his teacher at St. Ursula, Mary Ann Nietubicz. More than 30 students at the Parkville school made posters and from those a handful were submitted to the local competition, sponsored by the post based at St. Casimir Church in Canton. “We are very tickled that one of our students won a national competition like this,” said St. Ursula Assistant Principal Kathleen Schaub. “It’s the first time that we can recall having a child win a national competition like this.” The school held an in-class presentation Feb. 7 with Catholic War Veterans Maryland Commander Gilbert Barker and Hawk’s family (father Mike Lance, mother Anna Lance and sister Ruby Lance). Vicky Georgetti, who helped spearhead the local competition, said Hawk’s poster captured the spirit of the theme to protect against the commercialism and secularization of Christmas. “It was a powerful message,” Georgetti said of the winning poster, which featured images of crossed-out price tags. “For a fifth-grader to be thinking of that kind of thing is just incredible.” Georgetti said students from St. Ursula as well as those from the faith formation group at St. Isaac Jogues in Carney submitted entries for the Maryland competition. There were 160 local entries with Hawk’s poster one of three selected to move on to the national competition. From thousands of entries throughout the nation, Hawk’s entry was judged the best of the final 12 at nationals. Read More Schools News Calvert Hall holds off Loyola Blakefield to claim a 28-24 victory in the 105th Turkey Bowl Maryland pilgrims bring energy and joy to NCYC 2025 5 Things to Know about the 2025 Turkey Bowl Mercy High School freshman set to ask question of Pope Leo XIV Baltimore-area Catholic school students take active role in Ignatian Teach-In Faith, fortitude inspire St. Mary’s freshman through journey with kidney disease Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media Print
