KINSA CEREMONY WILL BE HELD TODAY AT WEST PARK MALL

Local Kodak International Shapshot Newspaper Award winners will be honored at West Park Mall this morning.

Joyce Hunter, coordinator of KINSA at the Southeast Missourian, invites the public to meet the winning photographers and view the exhibit of more than 1,300 entries. The photographs will remain on display at the mall through Tuesday.

The awards ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at Center Court. Many of the finalists and semifinalists will be in attendance.

Those viewing the exhibit are also encouraged to vote on a "People's Choice" award. The winning photographer will receive a night's stay in St. Louis. Ballots may be turned in at the customer service counter in the JCPenney court.

The "People's Choice" award will be announced at the end of the show, along with a number of prizes drawn randomly from all photographers who entered.

At today's ceremony, each semifinalist will receive a prize package that includes a certificate of distinguished achievement in photography, a Southeast Missourian comic strip umbrella, an enlargement of their photo and a gift certificate from an area merchant.

The eight finalists will also receive a gift certificate from Kodak and a framed copy of their enlargement. Their photographs have also been forwarded to Kodak's international competition.

"Our first KINSA contest has been very exciting," said Hunter. "We're already gearing up for next year. We encourage people to look for great photo opportunities throughout the year for next year's KINSA."

Hunter said many of the winners have received extensive comment from both friends and strangers.

One of the winners, Carolyn Pickens of Jackson, received a poem inspired by her photograph of seagulls and their footprints on the beach in Florida. The poem titled "Footprints" was written by Erma C. Statler in Jackson.

"That's just another example of how this contest really reached out into the community," said Hunter.

She thanked the Gold sponsors of the contest: Southeast Missouri Hospital, Western Sizzlin', Delmonico's and Shoe Carnival, and regular sponsor Footprince.

Hunter reminded entrants that no photographs will be returned at the end of the show. The photographs had to permanently affixed to the display boards to ensure none would be lost during the exhibit.