One of the Grand View Corporation’s main goals since its inception is to help out disadvantaged youth.
The last year, year and a half, the number of students who fall under that umbrella has increased exponentially, and not just because of monetary issues.
“Our mission is to empower disadvantaged kids,” said Hayden Cook with the GVC. “COVID put all kids at a disadvantage.”
With that in mind, the board at Grand View wanted to provide Ohio County school students an opportunity to express their thoughts and detail their experiences in dealing with COVID. In doing so, they were eligible to compete for cash prizes in the “Take Down Your Mask Challenge.”
The contest came with two categories, a written entry, or an artistic expression. Cook said the GVC received roughly 150 entries. Because of the number, AND quality of the entries, additional winners were created.
“There were so many entries and so many good entries, we chose two co-winners in each division, as well as a runner-up.”
The written submission could take the form of a song, a journal, a poem, or even a narrative explaining how the student felt about the entire experience. The artistic category allowed entrants to explore their creative side via artwork, a video, or a TickTok video symbolizing their feelings.
“Sometimes, in order to heal from our trauma, we can turn to art and written expression … we challenge you to ‘Take Down Your Mask’ and show us how you really feel,” the flyer said.
All Ohio County Schools students in grades 6-8 were eligible to participate and the entry deadline was May 21.
Recently, the GVC selected the winners and surprised the students with their winnings checks: $75 for each co-winner and $50 for the runners-up.
Cook and Johnson stand with winner Hayden. 
Cook and Johnson stand with winner Daniel.
Providing Some Insight
Cook admits that he and the judges occasionally had a hard time getting through a number of entries. As an educator and a coach, Cook knows first hand the struggles the students experienced during COVID.
But to hear it directly from the source? In their own words?
“You’d start reading and you’d have to take a break because it was a little overwhelming to read some of the experiences the kids had gone through,” Cook said. “Other educators and community members read them and it definitely surprised them.”
Not only that, but Cook noted all the judges were amazed at the quality of the artistic category submissions. He noted some kids used photos, clay art, and digital art. Some wrote songs, poems, and essays.
“They really got into it,” Cook said. “The were extremely honest and vulnerable talking about their experiences.
“I wish we could have named even more winners because there were a lot of deserving entries.”
Cook believes the contest was therapeutic for the entrants as they got to express their true feelings in a manner which best suited their talents and comfort level. That, he believes, led to a more honest representation.
That could be why that some of the kids who maybe don’t normally do as well in school as others really shined during this project. He said he saw sides of students that he hadn’t expected and seen before, and that their creativity really shined through and stood out.
