Hayes Elementary School fourth-graders were busy last week finishing up pasting seeds on a large piece of plyboard.

When they were finished, several representatives from the group presented the project at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. This week, the board with hundreds of tiny seeds — including corn and wheat — pasted on it, sits on display at the Oklahoma History Center in Okla-homa City.

The project is the students’ submission into the Oklahoma Centennial Collage Project. The project and contest is sponsored by Hideaway Pizza and celebrates the eighth and final year of creating a unique collection of historic art celebrating the centennial.

The theme of the Hayes students’ project is “Seeds sewn in our past yield hope for the present.”

“The seeds are life principles,” said Maggie Ruding, one of the students working on the project.

The handful of students helped paste items in the collage. Nicole Janzen said the collage represents items in the state’s history, including Native Americans, churches and a variety of people from past and present.

The collage submission process includes writing a journal entry about their project.

Students also detailed other projects and events from school this year, including a land run re-enactment and a visit to Turkey Creek School, Enid’s one-room school house.

Individuals and organizations from all walks of life have entered the contest. The Collage Project is truly one of the most “hands-on” projects celebrating Oklahoma’s centennial, with thousands of people having participated in this unique undertaking over the past seven years, organizers have said.

Judging takes place under the rules and guidelines set by OCCP and $10,000 in prize money will be awarded this year. Select entries from the eight-year project will be exhibited along with the 2007 entries at the new Oklahoma History Center and the state Capitol, as well as Septemberfest at the Governor’s Mansion.

Endorsed by the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools Sandy Garrett and Oklahoma Centennial Commis-sion, the OCCP challenges residents to celebrate their creative talents and stories, portraying the many facets of Oklahoma society and history in this final year of the project.

A panel of distinguished judges reviews the collages and essays. Cash prizes are given to the top finishers in each of three age categories: elementary, high school and open (college age and older). The overall grand champion receives $2,000 while the first place winners in each category receive $1,000. All collages become the property of The Hideaway for long-term public display throughout Oklahoma.