News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
February 20, 2008
Volume 38, Number 71

Contact: Jennifer Nelson, DNREC Nonpoint Source Program, phone: (302) 739-9922 or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Nonpoint Source Program Announces 2008 T-Shirt Design Contest

Last year, nearly 300 visitors to the DNREC Nonpoint Source Program’s booth at the Delaware State Fair took home T-shirts featuring Wilmington Christian middle schooler Jessica McLaughlin’s design, an oval split image of a tree thriving in a blooming landscape on one side and dying in a polluted one on the other. The message: “Take care of our environment – It ’s the only one we have. Stop nonpoint pollution.”

From now through the contest deadline of Friday, April 11, the NPS Program is encouraging Delaware middle school students to submit designs based on the theme “Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention – What Will I Do?” that will be featured on this year’s T-shirt. The shirts are printed in the student’s school colors and given away at the fair as the grand prize to winners of the NPS Program’s popular trivia game.

The design should focus on a single action or activity that the student will carry out to reduce nonpoint source pollution, which is caused by rainfall runoff carrying such pollutants fertilizers, toxic chemicals and bacteria from sources such as livestock and faulty septic systems into our waterways, wetlands and drinking water.

Designs should be crisp and clear in black on a white background, and no larger than 8 ½ inches by 11 inches, with the student’s name, grade, school name and teacher’s name written on the back of each design submitted. The NPS Program reserves the right to alter or enhance the artwork if selected. The winner will receive a free T-shirt with his or her design.

Teachers are invited to take on the contest as a classroom project or to encourage individual submissions. Middle school-level homeschooled students and organizations are also welcome to submit entries. Entries should be mailed to the Nonpoint Source Program, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. If mailing from a state address, please use state mail code D450.

For design inspiration, visit the EPA’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Page for Middle School Students at www.epa.gov/owow/nps/nps_edu/ or the NPS Program website at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/district/pages/NPS.aspx .

For more information, please contact the Nonpoint Source Program at 302-739-9922.