
Entries in the 2016 WCSD Holiday Card Contest. Photo: Carla O’Day
By Carla O’Day
A 10-year-old elementary school student designed a “Washoe County Express” train for the school district’s sixth annual holiday card contest and unexpectedly took first place.
“I was surprised,” said K.C. De La Rosa, a fifth grader at Desert Heights Elementary. “I didn’t think I was going to win because there were a lot of entries.”
De La Rosa’s train included the Washoe County School District logo on the freight car which Santa Claus sits and a caboose full of presents.

KC De La Rosa with her winning holiday card art. Photo: Carla O’Day
De La Rosa said her favorite classes are art and math. She showed up at Tuesday’s board of trustees meeting with her family, teacher, and principal to be recognized.
The district received 374 entries that included hand-drawn, painted, computer-generated, collage, and photography cards. Each entry was hung either in the boardroom or lobby. District communications staff shortlisted their 10 favorites and trustees picked a winner.
Students of all ages could take part. Teachers promoted the contest and a call for entries was also on the school district’s website and through social media.
Cards with De La Rosa’s design will be mailed, e-mailed and posted on the school district’s web site.

KC De La Rosa’s winning 2016 Holiday Card art. Photo: WCSD
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Carla has an undergraduate degree in journalism and more than 10 years experience as a daily newspaper reporter. She grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., moved to the Reno area in 2002 and wrote for the Reno Gazette-Journal for 8 years, covering a variety of topics. Prior to that, she covered local government in Fort Pierce, Fla.
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