The U.S. Postal Service is calling on local elementary school students to design "Stamps of the Future."
The project challenges students from local elementary schools' fourth- and fifth-grade classes to portray the Wood River Valley in a stamp, a stamp that could, potentially, circulate nationwide.
The rules are simple: The stamps must be a student's original work, meaning no part of the design can be computer generated. Black and white or color pictures are acceptable. The only catch is that students have to create images that capture the vast and immeasurable grandeur of the Wood River Valley and, yet, can be shrunk down to the size of a stamp. It could be a rather dubious task at best.
The final designs will be featured in post office lobbies throughout the valley between Feb. 21 and March 8. During that time, local citizens will be asked to vote on three of their favorite potential stamps. The winning artists will receive prizes and accolades from the post offices for their work.
As simple as the theme is, nearly infinite possibilities fall on the young artists.
"We are looking for anything featuring life in the Wood River Valley or the future of the valley," Hailey Postmaster Kathleen Eder said.
"Teachers have worked with their students over the past weeks," Sun Valley Postmaster Vern Brander said. Collectively they have used their creativity and imaginations "to come up with some very impressive ideas."
In addition to receiving prizes from their respective post offices, students whose stamps receive the most votes will see their designs sent to the Spokane District Office where they will again be voted on by district representatives. The district office will select three winners from each grade for grand prizes.
The district offices will submit picks to the Washington, D.C., U.S. Postal Service headquarters for consideration on a new, nationally distributed stamp.
"The Wood River Valley definitely gives the students some spectacular scenery to work with," Ernest Hemingway Elementary School Principal Don Haisley said, alluding to the fact local students may have a leg-up on potential competition.
As for the contest, "we encourage people to come out and take a look at it and admire what the kid's have brought to our community," Eder said.
