Trinity Lutheran Student Repeats as Poster Contest Winner

There is a saying that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. For Trinity student Tim Lash of Oak Forest, his art skills are on fire. Lash beat out other eighth-graders to win the annual Tinley Park Fire Department poster contest a second consecutive time.

On Thursday morning, Mary and Ken Lash watched as their son, Tim arrived at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School on a fire truck. They stood and watched him at the same place last year.

"It's pretty exciting that he can do it twice" said Ken Lash.

As the fire engine pulled to the west side of the school, his classmates, teachers and Principal Steve Stec applauded and greeted him as he hopped out of the fire truck. As everyone wanted to take a picture, Tinley Park Public Education Officer Bill Proper seemed almost as excited as Tim.

"This is just a great program, kids get a lot of benefits," Proper said. "There's a dinner, cash award and the poster will be featured in a calendar. Every winner in each grade gets a fire engine ride."

Tim just enjoys art, and this contest was another way to flex those creative muscles. He's also manufactured a 12-hole golf course from cardboard boxes and duct tape, which is laid out in his basement.

"When I won last year, I was surprised," he said. "This year the eighth-grade poster, I worked harder. The theme was 'Two Ways Out.' I just didn't draw a house on fire, I drew a firefighter, he's holding a little kid. The poster shows they save people, that's what they do.

"I was happy when I won the first time, I'm even more blessed I won it twice," he added.

Tim will be attending Tinley Park High School next year.

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