Heather Cory

Ryan Cross, a senior at Silverado High School, helps put the final touches on a Christmas tree as Silverado competes in Valley Auto Mall’s annual Christmas tree decorating contest at Towbin Dodge.

By Jeremy Twitchell (contact)

Mon, Dec 1, 2008 (10:25 p.m.)

Between the recession, the holiday season and the fact that it was a Monday, there were a lot of reasons for the dealerships at the Valley Auto Mall in Henderson to be slow on Monday.

Instead, high school students from around the valley turned the showroom of each dealership into a flurry of activity during the Auto Mall's annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest.

The student groups had a two-hour window from 3 to 5 p.m. to execute the designs they had been formulating since they were selected for the competition in October. A panel of judges then made the rounds and handed out the awards.

Despite the tight time frame, none of the students appeared stressed, which they credited to extensive planning and preparation.

"We're all really into it, so this will work really good," said Carly Smith, the junior class treasurer at Green Valley High School. "We a very involved, very motivated student council, and we all work well together."

The Green Valley team blended the school's mascot with Dr. Seuss to come up with "How the Gator Stole Christmas."

One dealership over, students from Silverado High School also used the school's mascot, the Skyhawk, to come up with a theme — "Silverado Flying High for the Holidays."

For the Silverado team, the challenge became tougher when the pre-strung lights on the tree went out and it had to be restrung.

The last-minute challenges are part of the fun, students said.

"(The contest) is actually one of our favorite events, because it gives us a chance to all get together and get into the holiday spirit," Silverado Student Body President Kellie Brunty said.

In addition to the competitive spirit of the event, the students were aiming for prize money that most groups planned to use for charitable purposes.

For Green Valley students, winning prize money would mean a chance to provide additional assistance to injured football player LaQuan Phillips, a senior defensive back who was temporarily paralyzed in a game Sept. 5. Since then, Green Valley student council adviser Michelle Matherly said the student body has rallied around Phillips and his family through several fundraisers.

"The students really love it," she said. "A lot of them are really excited because they've seen him back at school now, so they're really motivated."

A portion would also help the Gators Give program, in which students adopt needy Henderson families and provide Christmas gifts for them.

At Silverado, prize money would go into the student council's activities fund, which sponsors programs like Christmas gifts for children at the Shade Tree shelter and Sub For Santa, said student council adviser Stephanie Stewart.

"(The contest) is still fun, even if we don't win anything," Stewart said. "It gets us into the holiday spirit. Maybe we'll win money, maybe we won't, but it's always fun."

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.