BROWARD COUNTY STUDENT WINS FWC MANATEE DECAL ART CONTEST
March 3, 2005
Contact: Bonnie Abellera (850) 922-4330
Angie Raines (850) 488-4676
A Broward County middle school student won the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) manatee art decal contest and will have her artwork featured on the 2005-06 manatee decals. Vivian Chiu, 13, a student at Indian Ridge Middle School, created a watercolor titled “Manatees in Nature,” showing three manatees.
In an essay submitted along with her artwork, Vivian, states, “I wanted the viewer to see how beautiful and happy these creatures could be if they weren’t in danger.” Her artwork will help FWC’s manatee awareness campaign to promote protection of these endangered animals.
The artwork will become a full-color, waterproof decal designed to stick to boats or other vehicles. Manatee decals will be distributed to tax collectors’ offices around the state, and are offered to anyone who donates at least $5 to the Save the Manatee Trust Fund. Tax collectors should have the decals by July. However, the first decal to come off the press -- number 00001 -- will go to Vivian. She will also be presented with a framed certificate, a prize ribbon and four tickets to SeaWorld.
“Vivian Chiu’s artwork will forever be a part of the FWC
manatee program. That’s an honor that only a few have received,” said Bonnie
Abellera, Imperiled Species Management Section education leader.
This is the 15th year the FWC has held an art contest to create the manatee
decal. Decals are used to raise voluntary revenue to support manatee
protection efforts such as rescue, rehabilitation, research and public
education. Annually, revenue earned through this program amounts to
approximately $80,000.
Six other art students won recognition in FWC’s Manatee Decal Art Contest:
Second Place – Tie
Steel Calhoun, Gulf Breeze Middle School, Santa Rosa County
David Arce, Lake Stevens Middle School, Dade CountyThird Place – Tie
Samantha Franco, Indian Ridge Middle School, Broward County
Alicia del Aguila, South Miami Middle School, Dade CountyHonorable Mention
Alicia Jeffrey, Gulf Breeze Middle School, Santa Rosa County
Heather Foster, Citrus Springs Middle School, Citrus County
To see Vivian Chiu’s 2005-06 first place artwork and decals from past years, visit the FWC’s Web site, MyFWC.com, and go to the manatee pages from the side menu. Previous year decals are available online, and 2004-05 decals are still on sale at tax collectors’ offices.
Note: The Florida manatee is Florida’s state marine mammal and is classified as an endangered species. To report manatee deaths, injuries, orphaned calves or harassment, call 1-888-404-FWCC.
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