Record-breaking number of bunnies turned in for coloring contest!

Producing two magazines, a weekly paper, and a potpourri of other special sections here at The Progress is hard work; hard as in it’s super deadline-driven with few respites, and often it’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle in zero gravity.

But I think we have all agreed that nothing compares to the Sophie’s Choice that is judging the semi-regular coloring contests. One of first contest I judged was last year’s Thanksgiving turkeys. We had around 80 entries and it was all sorts of difficult. Do you pick the one that demonstrates the best coloring skills? The most appealing color palette? The most creative? Or your secret favorite, the “Go Hokies!!!“ Tech turkey?

To preempt the Christmas contest, we tried to develop a set of guidelines. Ultimately we decided to reward the most creative; Bethany swore to vote for one that glued on real pine needles, I was searching for additions like wallpaper design behind the tree and fire in the fireplace, and Adrianne went for the most untraditional interpretations.

I think all bets are off for the Easter contest, a bunny sitting in a basket of eggs. There are well over 700 pinned to the walls along the front hallway of the building (ironic that bunnies are known for their breeding prowess). I am not a photographer; this photo does no justice to the hoards of bunnies that line the hallway. Drive by The Progress on Rio Road West; the row of bunnies is two times the length of the building, stacked three high.

It wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t apply the same rigorous process we apply to producing magazines, but we do. We cannot simply pick one that looks nice; we give each and every entry its due consideration. Once the entries are all posted we examine every single entry at least once, and discuss design details with each other. Early favorites form and the debate grows. Eventually a deadline is given to turn in votes; some of us go with their gut and vote immediately, others look at every entry a final time, listing the favorites on a post-it (me) or compiling a photo gallery on an iPhone (Bethany), then winnowing it down in a few stages through comparison.

Not to sound cheap, but every single entry is loved by somebody here. Overheard just now: “This one uses my favorite Easter colors” “Look how they did the basket to look like it’s woven” “But this one drew in a sun/clouds/birds/a bow” “Ohhhh they made the lollipop a rainbow.“ We’re the real winners; we get to see all the entries.