A year’s worth of Chick-fil-A went to the first-place winners at the inaugural Oxford Kiwanis Club’s Double Decker Student Art Show and Sale on Wednesday.

University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeff Vitter congratulated the winners during a presentation at Allen Samuel’s car showroom.

“I almost considered entering when I heard about the first-place prize of chicken for a year,” he said with a chuckle.

The contest asked students in third through sixth grade, at all area schools in Oxford and Lafayette County, to create a drawing or painting that featured the Double Decker Arts Festival and depicted what the festival means to them. Awards were given to first-, second- and third-place winners. The winning artwork will be hung up at Chick-fil-A in Oxford until May 1.

The artists had to pay a $10 entrance fee. All the art was on sale Wednesday for $20 except the winning pictures that cost $40.

Second-place winners received a bowling package from Premier Lanes Family Entertainment Center and Malco Theaters and third-place winners took home a gift basket from Holli’s Sweet Tooth and a $25 gift certificate from Square Books. Honorable mentions received game cards from Premier Lanes.

“Every penny goes to help support the many charities Kiwanis supports,” said Jim Stephens, president.

Some of the local organizations Kiwanians support include Lovepacks, Interfaith Compassion Ministry and the Boys and Girls Scouts.

Stephens said the talent of the children who took part in the program amazed him.

“I was really pleased with the participation and just blown away by the talent we have here in our schools,” he said.

The teachers who had the most participation were given $100 to use in their classrooms.

Mayor Pat Patterson also attended the event and said he was impressed with the turnout.

“It says a lot about Oxford,” he said. “It says a lot about our education. It says a lot about our schools. It says a lot about our teachers.”

Rosie Vassallo with the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce said six judges were asked to select the winners, which was not an easy task, she said.

“We asked people who did not have children in the schools,” she said. “It was a tough, competitive competition. There’s some great art here.”

McKay Bartlett, 12, was the first-place winner for the sixth grade. She attends Regents School of Oxford. After receiving her year of free chicken award, she stood near her picture where her family gathered to take photos. Her picture was of musicians on stage during the festival with the crowd behind them. She used colored pencils.

“I like using things where I can also use my fingers for shading and things,” she said.

Many of the drawings and paintings were of the Double Decker buses, but Bartlett said she wanted to do something different.

“I like to challenge myself,” she said.

ART WINNERS

Third grade

First place: Brandon Coleman, LUES

Second place: Cameron Monroe, LUES

Third place: Isabella Langendoen, DD

Honorable mention: Allie Reeves Drewrey, LUES

Fourth grade

First place: Annie Shaw, DD

Second place: Maggie Tower, LUES

Third place: Evelyn Carmean, DD

Honorable mentions: Arthur Wells, DD; Madeline Swain, LUE; Jamiya Freelon, LUES

Fifth grade

First place: Claire Anne Coudreax, OIS

Second place: Ginny Grace Arizaga, OIS

Third place: Sarah Grace Moore, OIS

Honorable mentions: Kayde Lee McMullen, OIS and Dorothy Grace Daniels, OIS

Sixth grade

First place: McKay Bartlett, RS

Second place: Numa Maryam, OIS

Third place: Cole Feathers, OIS

Honorable mentions: Averie Jones, OIS and Celie Rayburn, OIS