(Columbus) Today, Director of the Ohio Department of Commerce Gary C. Suhadolnik, announced the Ohio winners of the Ninth Annual U.S. Savings Bonds Poster Contest. The three winners were selected from posters entered by Ohio students in the 4th through 6th grades. The winning posters illustrate the contest’s 2000 theme: "U.S. Savings Bonds -- Making Dreams a Reality."

"The contest gives children the opportunity to be creative and imaginative and helps teach them the importance of saving for their future," said Director Suhadolnik. Commerce coordinates the program in Ohio.

U.S. Savings Bonds, sponsored by Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, were presented to the students at a ceremony held today at the Statehouse. Hollyann Popp, a home-schooled 4th-grader from Salem, OH, received a $1,000 savings bond for the first place poster. Sixth grader Rhyan Clark, from W. H. McGuffey Life Skills Academy in Dayton, OH, received a $500 U.S. Savings Bond for the winning second place poster. Katherine Cantrell, a 5th grader from Wooster Township Elementary, Wooster OH, received a $200 savings bond for her third place poster. The savings bonds were presented by Peter E. Geier, President and COO, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

Participating Ohio schools sent in their top posters for consideration. Of the posters submitted, the top 25 were selected as semi-finalists. Judges selected the top three posters from these. The panel of judges included: Char Norman, Columbus College of Art and Design; Susan Nagel, Ohio Department of Commerce; Renalda Sneed, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated; and Holly Hollingsworth, WCMH TV Channel 4.

Ms. Popp’s first place winning poster will represent Ohio in the National competition in April. The first place winner of the National contest, to be announced in May 2000, will receive $5,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds; the second place winner $2,000 in savings bonds; and the third place winner $1,000 in savings bonds. The winners will be flown to Washington, D.C. to receive their awards.

In addition to Huntington Banchshares Incorporated and the Ohio Department of Commerce, other sponsors of the Ohio Poster Contest include Bob Evans Farms and the Ohio Historical Society. Exxon Mobile is the national sponsor of the 2000 contest.

To learn more about savings bonds and the poster contest visit the web site: www.savingsbonds.gov.

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