Arlington student's poster among statewide winners in voting campaign

Nobody can blame Phillip Smith, a student at Arlington's Ousley Junior High School, for being apathetic about voting.

Smith came up a winner in a statewide contest for his poster aimed at inspiring more people to get out and vote.

He won third place in the Tex Elects middle school poster contest, sponsored by the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas at Austin. Kevin Nute, his teacher, sponsored his entry.

There are sections for essays, posters, and other media created by middle and high school students in the contest to create nonpartisan campaign messages.

The Tex Elects contest complements civics and government classes, where students are taught about the presidential election and the importance of citizen participation.

About 3,000 posters have been distributed this year through the Institute's coalition of campus voter registration organizations, teachers and schools.

Ousley will receive a $50 gift in honor of Smith's win. The money can be used for classroom supplies, books and equipment, or a class field trip or party.

_Shirley Jinkins