Henning School students take first, third place in local contest

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Contributed photo
A bookmark reated by Henning third grader Kaylee Godding took first place in a Cherry Street Books contest. Her bookmark will be given away at the store and through various promotions throughout the next year. 

A bookmark designed by Henning third grader Kaylee Godding will become a new staple for local children and adults.

Godding, who is the daughter of Isaiah and Krista Godding of rural Henning, won a contest sponsored by Cherry Street Books that sought to create a custom bookmark that the Alexandria-based company could give away throughout the next year. 

This is the first year the locally-owned book store has created a create a bookmark contest. Ironically, perhaps, not only did Godding’s design win first place, but a Henning student also captured third place in the contest. 

“We just are always trying to think of fun things for kids to get excited about reading and coming back into the book store,” said Becky Schlosser, of Cherry Street Books. 

Schlosser said the idea behind the bookmark contest came from a desire that the bookstore owners had to create a custom bookmark that could be given away at things like book fairs, in-store purchases and as a promotional item. She said the owners tried to design their own bookmark, but wanted to open it up to students from across the region to get their unique input on the project.

“We were trying to design a bookmark for the store that was a bit more personable,” said Schlosser. “(We said) wouldn’t it be cute if you were a kid and said that is my bookmark and I designed that.”

Schlosser said the owners were blown away by the number of entries in the bookmark contest. In Henning, students were encouraged to design their own bookmark and submit it during the book fair that Cherry Street Books hosted in Henning in April. Students could put anything on their design, but had to include the name Cherry Street Books somewhere in the design. 

Godding’s new bookmark will be printed in Alexandria and will be given away with in-store purchases at Cherry Street Books in Alexandria for the next year. After seeing the overwhelming response to this year’s bookmark contest, Schlosser said the plan is to have a similar contest in future years as well.