Five LCES students were named state finalists in the "USS Georgia Return to Service Art Competition." Pictured are: (l-r) Will Crook, Cheyenne Keller, art teacher Veronica Kelly, Sean Tuten, and Matt Etheridge. Not pictured is Kendrick Beard. Five LCES students were named state finalists in the "USS Georgia Return to Service Art Competition."

The talented artists are Kendrick Beard, Matt Etheridge, Sean Tuten, Will Crook, and Cheyenne Keller.

The competition celebrated the return to service of the USS Georgia. The 560-foot Trident submarine is now stationed at the King's Bay Naval Submarine Base in Camden County and is the only active duty Navy ship that is home-ported in its namesake state.

Students, representing nearly 50 school systems and 150 schools in the state, participated in the art contest to welcome the USS Georgia home.

The theme for the contest was "Bringing the USS Georgia Home: Celebrating Georgia's Ambassadors for Peace."

"I'm very proud of everyone who participated in this contest, especially these five winners," said Veronica Kelly, art teacher at LCES. "This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, affording these young students the ex- perience of sharing their pride in their state through art."

Although contest entries could be submitted in a variety of mediums, the students from LCES chose to portray the USS Georgia using watercolors.

Originally slated for salvage, the former ballistic missile submarine was recently converted into a guided missile vessel while anchored in Norfolk, Virginia.

Launched in 1982, the USS Georgia is the third ship to bear the name of this grand state. The keel laying ceremony was presided over by First Lady Rosalyn Carter. In fact, her initials can still be seen on the ship's hull.