Louisiana students were recently honored for their winning entries in the Tenth Environmental Awareness Art and Language Arts Contest at a reception held in Baton Rouge at the Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, June 20. The students’ families, teachers, and principals were invited to attend the reception. Members of the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission (LEEC) and Alcoa Foundation representatives attended the event as well. LEEC member and CWPPRA education specialist, Susan Testroet- Bergeron, delivered the congratulatory address along with Kevin Boll of Alcoa. DHH State Public Health Veterinarian & Assistant State Epidemiologist, Gary A. Balsamo, DVM, MPH & TM, served as master of ceremonies.
The winners were selected from over 771 entries submitted by kindergarten through twelfth grade students from ninety-two schools across the state. Students submitted entries in both art and language arts in four separate age categories. Art entries were required to be in color and participants used a variety of media, including crayons, colored pencils, and watercolors. Language arts entries were written as stories, reflections, creative narratives, and poetry. Entries were judged on artistic quality, creativity, and how well the piece represented the contest theme, “Louisiana Waters: Protect, Conserve, Enjoy!”
Cash prizes totaling $3,000 were awarded to the student winners. Winning art and language art entries will be used to create a 2013 Environmental Awareness calendar, which will be distributed statewide. Winning language arts entries will be published in newspapers and winning art entries will be placed on billboards in the winners’ local areas. The annual contest is sponsored by the LEEC through the generous support of the Alcoa Foundation.
Local West Feliciana Parish student, Claire Leming, placed first in the 11-13 year old art division.
