A Columbiana youth has been selected by Alabama Power Company as the Shelby County School System winner of an Energy Saving Tips art contest.

Jared Seale, an 8-year-old third grade student at Elvin Hill Elementary and the son of Brenda and Tom Seale of Columbiana, was announced as the winner by Superintendent Evan Major at the Shelby County Board of Education’s Thursday, Dec. 19 meeting.

According to Major, the Shelby County Cost Avoidance program was started six years ago to help reduce the cost of heating and cooling at county school facilities.

As an awareness emphasis for saving electricity, the contest was developed to allow students to become a part of the program.

Students in grades three through five were given the opportunity to submit an illustrated savings tip to local art teachers.

Winners in the local schools were presented a Louie The Lightning Bug tote bag. Local school contest winners were sent to Alabama Power which selected the winner.

Entries were judged on originality, visual effect, neatness, the illustration and whether the student followed the contest guidelines.

Major thanked Alabama Power for judging the contest and providing the prizes.

He called upon Richard Rayborn of Alabama Power to present the grand prize to Seale.

Rayborn serves as manager for retail sales for Birmingham.

Seale received his art framed for hanging and a radio for his efforts.

Major also thanked Alexandra Minga, the school system’s customer representative, for her part in helping to develop the contest.

Tom Seale, who serves as mayor pro tem and a member of the Columbiana City Council, said that last year Jared had some of his art on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art