Harris County Fire Marshals Congratulate Lakeland Elementary Stu

Harris County Fire Marshals Congratulate Lakeland Elementary Student with ParadeFrom Humble ISD: Harris County Fire Marshals’ Office Congratulates Lakeland Elementary Student with Coloring Contest ParadeHumble ISDJAN 05, 2024By: Leslie FuentesOn Thursday, January 4, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office awarded Madelyn Lopez, a third grade student at Lakeland Elementary, a surprise mini parade of emergency vehicles for winning the department’s annual coloring contest.Lakeland Elementary third graders were in attendance, and the parade featured several emergency response vehicles from the HCFMO, Humble Fire Department, Humble Fire Marshal's Office and the Humble ISD Police Department.“It was special not just for her but for all the kids here and for her teachers as well to see her celebrated like that,” Lakeland Elementary Principal Lucy Anderson said. "I think it sends a really great message that if you compete, you might not win every time, but maybe at some point you’ll get to win and get recognized.”In honor of the annual Fire Prevention week, the HCFMO started the coloring contest during the pandemic in 2020 as a way to continue engaging the community.The department brought back its 2023 annual coloring contest in October with this year’s theme being “Cooking safety starts with you.” The contest was open to all students in pre-k through 5th grade in Harris County.“The coloring contest started during the pandemic because everything was shut down, and we wanted to continue to reach the community and make a difference,” HCFMO Youth Firesetter Intervention Program (YFIP) and Public Educator Specialist Betsabe Campos said. “The whole point of this is for kids to actually learn while they are coloring, and we want to congratulate them for their own artwork.”The department received a total of 73 submissions in this year's contest. Harris County Fire Marshal Chief Laurie Christensen judged the entries, and the winners were announced on social media in November. One winner from each coloring contest division was selected to receive a prize.Lopez was the winner of the 2nd through 3rd grade division, which received a total of 28 entries.“I was just excited and really happy for her because I know she really enjoys coloring, and she has even decided to join the art club at school,” Kimberly Perez, Lopez's mother, said.During the parade, Chief Christensen also presented Lopez with a gift box to congratulate her for her artwork.“She’s a child that works hard, and she puts effort into everything, and I think that showed in the work that she did,” Anderson said. “She exemplifies what I like to have from all our kids, which is the courage to try.”*Above Photo Caption: Harris County Fire Marshal Chief Laurie Christensen presented Madelyn Lopez, a 3rd grade student at Lakeland Elementary, with a gift box on behalf of the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office for winning the department's annual coloring contest for her division.To see original article, including additional photos click here: www.humbleisd.net/ar ticle/1396220