March 21, 2005
Young People Benefits of Trees
SPRINGFIELD,
ILL. - Maria Lisa Baldwin, a fifth grade student in Mr. David Rowe’s class
at Grace McWayne Elementary School in Batavia, is the winner of the 2005
Illinois Arbor Day Poster Contest sponsored statewide by the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources and the National Arbor Day Foundation.
More than 1,900 students from 115 Illinois schools participated in the poster contest, which was based on the theme ‘Trees are Terrific...and Energy Wise."
"The artwork submitted by the young people involved in the contest is excellent and the judges’ decisions on awards were difficult ones,” said IDNR Director Joel Brunsvold. “The first-place winner’s work is a terrific depiction of the theme, highlighting the benefit of trees to our communities and to energy conservation.”
The top ten entries and two honorable mention selections chosen by the judges are recognized for their efforts. The first-place winner receives a $100 savings bond along with several tree-related references. Second and third place winners each receive $50 savings bonds and tree-related books. Those finishing fourth through honorable mention receive tree identification guides. All winners also receive a seedling from a certified Famous and Historic Tree. Award sponsors include the National Arbor Day Foundation, Illinois Arborist Association, Society of American Foresters, Mid-American Energy, and the IDNR.
To view Maria Lisa Baldwin’s winning entry, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources web site at www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/classrm/poster.htm. Her poster will compete against winners from other states in a national competition. The national winner will be announced by the National Arbor Day Foundation in late April.
The Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Program administers the state competition.
Other Illinois contest finalists include:
2nd -
Traeiaunna King, Booker T. Washington School, Champaign, IL
3rd - Melanie Eichhorm, St. Jospeh School, Libertyville, IL
4th - Sendy Perez, Fearn Elementary School, North Aurora, IL
5th - Jacqueline Flood, St. Mary School, Mt. Vernon, IL
6th - Billy Craft, Sparta Lincoln Middle School, Sparta, IL
7th - Taylor Dittamore, St. Elizabeth School, Granite City, IL
8th- Yaroslav Bandurovych, William E. Dever School, Chicago, IL
9th - Maddy Bodil, Arbor Park Middle School, Oak Forest, IL
10th- Breanna Colorina, North School, Des Plaines, IL
Honorable mention - Tender Odom, North Intermediate School, Mt. Carmel, IL
David Cronin, Northwest Elementary School, Evergreen Park, IL
For more information about the program, contact Reinee Hildebrandt at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, rhildebrandt@dnrmail.state.il.us.
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