ATHENS — Colorful celebration.

Joy.

Vitality.

These sentiments about Athens and Christmas inspired this year’s Athens City Hall Christmas card.

Athens Mayor’s Youth Commissioner Katie Lee Helums, a senior at Athens Bible School, designed the fanciful card.

“I chose this design to showcase a colorful celebration of our beautiful Athens, seeing the season as an opportunity to have joy and vitality,” she said. “I wanted to represent Athens where the iconic City Hall becomes a whimsical part of a festive wonderland.”

Helums painted the scene and gifted the painting to Youth Commission mentor Holly Hollman. The Youth Commission is a program for students in grades 10-12 to learn about local government’s role and their role to be engaged and informed citizens.

Athens State University used a photo of the painting to make the Christmas cards. The Mayor’s Office sends the cards to dignitaries and friends of Athens in Alabama and other states.

“This is the second year we have asked a Youth Commissioner to design the Christmas card,” Hollman said. “This gives us a chance to see Athens and the season through a student’s creative eye.

“Katie definitely captured the color and joy of Athens and Christmas. We are so proud of her.”

Helums said that, to her, Christmas is “about bringing light and happiness into our communities.”

“The design reflects that spirit, showing how we can infuse more color into our lives through creativity, imagination and holiday cheer,” she said.