McCaul Draws National Attention

Ortega Forest junior resident Margaret McCaul combined her love of reading, art and America to create a bookmark design that has earned her national recognition in Second Lady Usha Vance’s Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America’s 250th.

The nationwide competition was done in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. According to a NEA press release, participants were encouraged to explore “themes such as American history and traditions, symbols of unity and democracy, community and hopes for the nation’s future.”

Winners were selected in three different grade categories: Kindergarten to second grade; third to fifth grade; and sixth to eighth grade.

“[I entered] because I love America, and I thought it would be very fun to do it,” said McCaul, who will enter fourth grade this fall.

Blending literature and American history, McCaul’s design features a bookshelf containing books bearing the names of several notable American figures, from Rosa Parks and Helen Keller to Benjamin Franklin and Neil Armstrong. More books, stacked on top of one another, read “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” topped by a miniature replica of the Liberty Bell.

“I chose my bookmark design because I love to read and I wanted to show some of America’s greatest people,” McCaul explained.

Some of her favorite books are mysteries, including the “Nancy Drew” series and classics like “Anne of Green Gables.”

McCaul joined the winners from the other two categories – first grader Iris Zhang from Fremont, California and eighth grader Eden Pethel from Pendergrass, Georgia – in Washington, D.C. for special recognition during the Great American State Fair.

McCaul’s mother, Anne-Clayton, said the entire family is proud of her.

“You know, you encourage your children to always do their very best, and it’s just really special when they get recognized this,” Anne-Clayton said. “For a while, it was a little surreal; I think it’ll feel really real when we get to D.C., but we’re just so incredibly proud of her.”

The McCauls plan to make a family vacation out of their trip to D.C., visiting the museums and monuments.

“I’m really excited about visiting the U.S. Capitol – and I’m also very excited about the award,” McCaul said.