NORWICH – For the second year, the Peeps candy invaded the community room on the Morrisville State Norwich Campus on April 1 in the Peeps Diorama Competition. The event was open to all students, faculty and the public, giving the participants the chance to show off their creativity and help aid victims in Haiti.
Each contestant paid an entrance fee of five dollars, and all the proceeds were donated to the Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Marsha Cornelius, the Dean of the Norwich Campus who put the contest together, says they made $105 to donate to the relief.
The rules were simple: use a box no bigger than 12 inches high by 12 inches deep by 20 inches long, think of a creative idea using peeps and any other props, and blow the judges away. Participants could choose to do the project on their own, in group (by family) or a group (major/department). The themes to choose from included: scariest, most humorous, musical, movie, sports and educational.
With a total of 23 entries, nine left as winners and received either a cash prize or donated gift box from the peeps company. The entries were judged by the Mayor of Norwich, Joe Maiurano; the Executive Director of Advancement and College Relations at the Morrisville Main Campus, Melissa Reider; and Norwich Campus Service Technician and Library Assistant, Brian Tefft.
First place for most original was a group project by the Community Work Shop (CWS) for their diorama, “Bunny Round-up.” Second place went Cameron Crugnale for his, “Marshmallow Mine.” Third place for ‘most original’ was created by Harriette Adamson called “Clue-less Peeps” after the board game and movie “Clue.”
Liberal arts student Cameron Crugnale and second place winner, says it took it him two nights to finish his “Marshmallow Mine.” Last year, he also won second place with his diorama, “The Dark Peep.” “I strived for first,” he said but added, “I’m happy with second.”
The mine was two levels with working yellow peeps underground picking up the miniature marshmallows with their shovels. There was even a bucket to carry the mine goods. Working peeps above drove the cart carrying the miniature marshmallows along side the cemetery.
Judge Brian Tefft said “Marshmallow Mine” was his favorite.
The winners by category were: first place, for educational, “The Malignant Hyperthermia Emergency Happening in Operating Room” by Michael Weslolwski; second for music, “Peepstock” by CWS; third for humorous “News Headlines” Peepwich Peeple Picket to Help Others by the Norwich Campus Human Service Organization; and forth for music “The Red Hot Chili Peepers” by the Norwich Campus Student Government Organization.
The grand prize winners for the JustBorn Inc. were first place “Bunny Round- Up” which was judge Reider’s favorite and second place “Alexander McPeep” (the fashion designer) by Bill Goloski was judge Maiurano’s favorite.
JustBorn Inc. donated two gift sets; the first place received a gift box full of candy and a crystal peep worth $150. The second place was a gift box full of candy, a tote bag and a peep baseball cap all worth $100.
A member of the community from Oxford, Jessica Wagner, says she found the contest in The Evening Sun and thought it would be fun. She created the diorama “300, Peepare for Glory!” after the movie “300.”
Wagner chose this simple idea that didn’t need many clothes. Her display had peeps sitting upon rocks and included bottle caps for shields and string with red paper wrapped around the peeps for capes.
Although he didn’t win a prize, Criminal Justice student, Jason Burcroff, was happy to help with the Haiti relief since he said his “only donation was working at the chili cook-off at the YMCA.” He made the display “Peepman” after the game Pacman.
Burcroff was also involved in his Criminal Justice class’ diorama of the OJ Simpson Trial. The scene was in the courtroom that had a peep judge, a peep OJ covered in chocolate, peep lawyers and a peep officer. In a row on the side were the jurors.
For more pictures, visit the Discussion Board at OxfordNY.com.