Steenrod Elementary Fourth Grader Shoots Winning ‘Hands’ for Photo Contest
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WHEELING -- Steenrod Elementary School student Niko Gomez explains his grandmother Lucy doesn't like the way her hands look.
She sees them as old, aging and not attractive, according to Gomez.
Now his effort to tell her she has beautiful hands -- ones that take loving care of those around her -- has won first place in a national photography contest.
Gomez received top prize in the intermediate division for grades 3-5 in the Parent Teacher Association's national "Reflections" photography contest. This year's theme had been "accepting imperfections," and Gomez said he immediately thought of his grandmother and taking a photo of her hands.
"My Grandmom -- she always said that her hands weren't perfect, and that they didn't look how they used to," Gomez said. "She doesn't like them at all.
"I don't feel like there's anything bad about them because they pray for us, they do laundry, they put Band-Aids on our cuts. She makes dinner. She shops for stuff."
He thought it would be a great idea if he "could help her feel better about her hands."
After winning at the state and regional levels, Gomez' photo was among 850 entries that advanced to the national level -- where he secured first place in his category.
This marked a first-time win in the competition for a photo from West Virginia.
Gomez won $800, with another $200 was directed to the Steenrod Elementary PTA.
He said he was allowed by his parents Ray and Jennifer Gomez to keep $200 of his money to spend, while the remainder was to go into his college fund.
Gomez has a special summer planned in which he is going on not one but four separate vacations with family and friends. He intends to spend his winnings while on vacations in Myrtle Beach, Ocean City and even a cruise.
He will also find time to go visit Grandmother Lucy, who he said is very proud of his win.
"She was very excited, and she thanked me for doing the project on her," Gomez said.
It was suggested a special ring would be a nice gift for Grandmother Lucy.
"I've got her many rings, but I'll probably get her one again," he said.
Gomez said he likely picked up his skill of photography from his mother, who is known for taking many photos of Gomez and her family.
"Doesn't she document your life?" Principal Michele Dietrich asked him.
Jennifer Gomez also organizes and edits the photos for the school's yearbook each year, she explained.
Gomez noted he isn't as excited about photography as his mother, but does notice the value a photo has.
"It's just nice to have them," he said. "When I get older, I can show them to my kids."