April 18, 2008

As a part of the Department of Environmental Quality's 2008 Earth Day Celebration, DEQ Director Steven E. Chester will be honoring the winners of this year's Earth Day poster contest. The contest was created to promote environmental awareness by giving students from Kindergarten through 5th grade an opportunity to design and create a poster celebrating an Earth Day theme.

This year, nearly 1,100 posters were submitted from all over Michigan; 1st place and 2nd place winners were selected, representing each of the six grade levels.

"We look forward each year to the creative artwork and the simple, positive, environmental messages displayed by the students who participate in the contest," said Director Chester. "We are reminded that we need to protect our great natural resources for them to enjoy, and for their children to enjoy."

The posters will be decorating the walls of Constitution Hall during the Earth Day celebrations on Tuesday, April 22.

The winners are:

Kindergarten
1st Place:    Luci Nieboer      North Muskegon Elementary,
                                           North Muskegon
2nd Place: Zakary Clissold    Arbor Academy, Battle Creek

1st Grade
1st Place: Olivia Urbain          Christ Lutheran, Oakley
2nd Place: Kai Woodberry      Foreign Language Immersion Cultural
                                            Studies School, Detroit

2nd Grade
1st Place:  Jack Falinski        Saint Mary School, Pinckney
2nd Place: Hannah Cardew     Burton Elementary, Huntington Woods

3rd Grade
1st Place:  Hijiri Woodberry     Foreign Language Immersion Cultural
                                             Studies School, Detroit
2nd Place: Rebecca Tanner     Lockwood Elementary, Eaton Rapids

4th Grade
1st Place:  Celia Somers        Burton Elementary, Huntington Woods
2nd Place: Brendan Aurand     Excel Charter Academy, Grand Rapids

5th Grade
1st Place:  Joseph Nate          Roosevelt Elementary, Stevensville
2nd Place: Autumn Monsma   Mary A. White Elementary, Grand Haven

For more information on the Earth Day Poster Contest, and to view the winning posters, visit the DEQ's website at: www.michigan.gov/deq, click on Environmental Education, and Earth Day.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised April 18, 2008 by Pat Watson