SHORT TAKES:Victoria student wins John Wayne Airport art contest

Niko Ridge, a student at Victoria Elementary School, took second place statewide in an art contest sponsored by John Wayne Airport.

The fourth-grader had received an honorable mention last fall for his colored-pencil drawing of a Boeing-747 landing at the airport. Afterward, John Wayne officials sent the winning drawings to a statewide competition — and Niko ended up in second place, tying with two others from elsewhere in California.

On Tuesday, he was honored at a ceremony in the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana.

“I didn’t know what to say,” Niko, 9, said about his victory. “I was amazed.”

As an additional reward, the state judges gave Niko some items that would please any striving artist: his picture replicated on note cards and candy wrappers.

— Michael Miller