Breaking News: 9-Year-Old Naomi Burmicky Wins Viridiane’s Hope T-Shirt Design Contest

SPRINGFIELD, Virginia — Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Health and Education has announced that 9-year-old Naomi Burmicky is the winner of its T-Shirt Design Contest, with the winning design set to be featured on shirts worn during the organization’s upcoming Swim-A-Thon fundraiser.

The T-shirt will be worn on Tuesday, July 21, when dozens of swimmers take to the water to raise funds for a drinking water well that will serve underserved and poor communities in the Far North region of Cameroon where communities face a paradoxical water crisis, battling both severe water scarcity and devastating flooding driven by poor infrastructure. The Swim-A-Thon brings together swimmers, families, volunteers, and supporters in a shared effort to expand access to safe drinking water and support education initiatives for children and families in need.

Naomi’s winning artwork will help carry the message of hope, service, and youth leadership throughout the event. Organizers congratulated Naomi and thanked all young artists who submitted designs, celebrating the creativity and compassion behind each entry.

Community members are invited to come out to the Swim-A-Thon fundraiser on July 21 at Orange Hunt Swim and Tennnis Club from 7:00am – 11:00am to cheer on the swimmers, encourage the young participants, and help Viridiane’s Hope reach its goal of providing clean drinking water to communities in Cameroon. Every lap, every donation, and every show of support will help bring the project closer to reality.

Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Health and Education Fifth Annual Swim A Thon T-Shirt Design Contest: Celebrating 5 Years of Impacts in Poor Communities.

The Viridiane’s Hope Fifth Annual Swim A Thon T-Shirt Design Contest is a fun, community-centered opportunity for young people to express their creativity while supporting an important cause. Through this contest, participants are encouraged to reflect the mission of Viridiane’s Hope: helping children in underserved communities gain access to clean water, better health, and improved educational opportunities.

The contest also helps youth in our community build leadership skills and strengthen experiences that may support future college applications, especially during their junior and senior years of high school. This competition is presented in partnership with the Orange Hunt Swim Team in Springfield, Virginia. Viridiane’s Hope is a Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Arlington Diocese, founded by grieving parents to honor their daughter. Viridiane’s Hope mission is to improve the lives of children in underserved communities, focusing on rural Cameroon, where we help families facing poverty and unrest. https://vhche.org/

Contest Details

Theme

Each design should include a visual concept that reflects Viridiane’s Hope through the Swim A Thon theme. The Swim A Thon fundraiser is a swimming competition for participants of all ages that raises money to provide safe drinking water for children and communities in rural, underserved, and underprivileged areas of Cameroon, West Africa through Viridiane’s Hope.

Eligibility

The contest is open to youth in elementary, middle, and high school.

Awards and Winning Categories

The contest includes three winning categories:

  • Elementary School: Grades K–6
  • Middle School: Grades 7–8
  • High School: Grades 9–12

One winner will be selected from each category. Each winner will receive a $50 gift card and a certificate of recognition. The top overall design will earn an additional $50 gift card and be featured on the T-shirt for the 2026 Viridiane’s Hope Fifth Annual Swim A Thon on July 21, 2026. The printed design will also include the winner’s signature.

Rules and Submission Deadlines

  •        Each design must reflect the theme, purpose, and mission of the Viridiane’s Hope Fifth Annual Swim A Thon fundraiser and celebrate everyone involved.
  •        Each submission must be the original work of one individual.
  •       Submissions may be sent in one of the following ways:
    • Electronic submission: Email entries to vhchecorp@gmail.com in one of these file formats: .ai, .eps, .pdf, .psd, or .jpg. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 6/26/2026.
    • Hard copy submission: Mail entries to Viridiane’s Hope, P.O. Box 523442, Springfield, VA 22152. Mailed entries must be postmarked by 6/26/2026.

Print-Ready Artwork Requirements

  •         Keep your design as simple as possible so it remains clear and recognizable when printed.
  •         Use no more than four spot colors.
  •         The thinnest lines must be at least 0.25 point.
  •         Do not use gradients, shadows, or color tints.

Judging Criteria

Winners will be selected using a 100-point scoring system.

  • Slogan — 30 points: How clearly does the design present the theme?
  • Visuals — 30 points: How effectively do the visuals communicate the message?
  • Overall Impact — 40 points: How well does the artwork capture attention and encourage reflection on the topic?

Contest Timeline and Winner Announcement

  • May 26 – June 26: Contest entry period
  • July 3: Winners announced

Note: Viridiane’s Hope reserves the right to convert, adjust, or modify the winning design if needed to achieve the best and most cost-effective reproduction for this charitable event. All entries become the property of Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Health and Education, including all reproduction rights and copyrights. Submitted designs will not be returned.

Past Contest

A BIG THANK YOU and Congratulations to all the youths who submitted their talented artwork for the Viridiane’s Hope Vhche first edition of the Swim A Thon T-Shirt Design Contest. Thank you to our judges from https://hsdesigns.com in Austin, TX for their generous time and talent in judging the submissions. Choosing a winner was not an easy task, a testimony of the great work put into the submissions. Since we didn’t have any submissions in the 7-8 grade level, the judges’ recommendation was to choose a second winner in the K-6 category given the volume of submissions.

Overall winner: Teague Schneider, 6th Grade. Artwork (water droplet) and signature included on this year’s swim a thon shirt.
Runner Up: Sofia Petersen, 6th Grade
Runner Up: Rennée Wolfe, 12th Grade

The winners each received a $50 Visa Gift Card during the Swim A Thon on July 17, 2024.

Thank you for your support for such a fun filled event to raise funds to drill water wells in poor villages.