Students of Carbon area parochial schools concentrated for weeks to create pieces for the annual Catholic Youth Organization's District 5 Arts and Crafts contest held at SS. Peter and Paul in Lehighton.

Phil Liszka, CYO director, handed out ribbons to children from Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Lansford, St. John Neumann Regional School in Palmerton and St. Joseph Regional in Jim Thorpe.St. John Neumann Regional School students swept the art category, taking home first place in four of five grade divisions.The kindergarten winner was Emerson Kress; Ellienna Apollo won in the first- and second-grade category; and Mikell Kulp won in the third- and fourth-grade art category for her lion drawing."It's because spring comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," Kulp said.Fifth- and sixth-grade winner Charlotte Vinson won her category, with Katrina Horvath of OLOAA taking home first place for her starry night landscape painting in the seventh- and eighth-grade division.Craft winners were: kindergartner Jaidyn Slifer, of St. John Neumann; first and second grade, Kaden Krajcirik of OLOAA with his crafted cars; and third to fourth grade, was Adian Sell of St. John Neumann won first place with a handmade dream catcher."I just decided to make it. It'll probably hang in the window," Sell said.Fifth- and sixth-grade winner Lauren Blackwell of St. John Neumann and art winner Horvath of OLOAA took home her second first-place ribbon.