Dec. 4, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 547

For more information, contact Michelle Jacobs, Community Relations Officer, 302-739-9921, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Conservation Poster Contest Winners Announced

The New Castle, Kent and Sussex Conservation Districts recently sponsored a conservation poster contest. This year’s theme was “Water is Life.” A total of 268 posters were judged in the following grade categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. First, second, and third place winners in each category received a prize valued at $50, $25 and $15 respectively from the conservation district in their home county. Listed below are the first place winners from each county.

Grade Level     New Castle County         Kent County                   Sussex County

K – 1               Yusef Kose                       Donovan Allen                   Autumn Davis                
                       Kose Home School          Allen Frear Elementary      Eagles Nest Christian  

2 – 3                Furkan Kose                    Gabriyella Daniel               Olyvia Lemieux
                       Kose Home School          East Dover Elementary       Georgetown Elementary 

4 – 6                Humberto Mendiola         Ashley Adams                    Christopher Parker
                       Wilson Elementary           William Henry Middle        Georgetown Elementary

7 – 9                N/A                                   Sloan Barton                      Aalayaha Water
                                                                Fifer Middle                        Selbyville Middle 

10 – 12             Emily Hunter                    Tristin Burris                       N/A
                        Delcastle Technical HS    Polytech High School

After judging by the local conservation districts, the first place winners in each grade level were forwarded to the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD) for judging at the state level. The following students’ posters have been forwarded to the National Association of Conservation Districts for judging at the national level. 

            Grade Level                State Winner 

K – 1                           Yusef Kose

2 – 3                            Gabriyella Daniel

4 – 6                            Ashley Adams

7 – 9                            Sloan Barton

10 – 12                        Tristin Burris

Martha Pileggi, staff assistant for the DACD and a local artist, noted that the quality of posters submitted this year was impressive. Judge Michael Brown, an environmental program administrator with the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, agreed. “I was delighted not only with the students’ artistic abilities but with their environmental awareness,” Brown said.  “There were a number of great entries, which made choosing the winners in each category extremely tough.”

The annual conservation poster contest provides kindergarten through 12th grade students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state associations, auxiliaries and agencies. The contest follows the annual Stewardship theme which is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.

This year’s theme, “Water is Life,” encourages people to remember the importance of water. We all live in a watershed and what we do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and other natural resources.

For more information on the poster contest or conservation district programs, please contact Michelle Jacobs at 302-739-9135 or Michelle.Jacobs@state.de.us.