SANTA FE – Carrie Dada found the right touch to capture the required theme and became the winning designer for New Mexico’s official 2020 ornament.
Dada, of the Institute of American Indian Arts, won a $2,500 grand prize grant for her design. The 2020 theme is “New Mexico Films the Great American West.”
Students were invited to submit their designs in April and the winners were announced earlier this month by the New Mexico Governor’s Mansion Foundation and the New Mexico Film Office at the red carpet ornament release party.
The other grant winners were:
• Leslie Bello Garcia, Public Academy for the Performing Arts, $1,000
• Cheyenne Garcia, New Mexico State University, $500
• Robert Cantu, Pojoaque Valley High School, $500
• LeRoy Grafe, Institute of American Indian Arts, $250
This is the ninth in a series of collectible, commemorative ornaments created by the New Mexico Governor’s Mansion Foundation featuring a historic or notable image associated with the state. All proceeds from the ornament sales benefit the foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit organization of volunteers responsible for the interior design and historic legacy of the governor’s residence.
New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia Keyes introduced the top five students and handed out their checks.
“It’s amazing to see such a talented group of students put their creative work out there to be judged,” Keyes said. “The winning design was professional and very well thought out. Congratulations to all.”
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