DEQ announces Earth Day poster contest winners

March 29, 2013                                                                                                          13-0329

For More Information                                    Tom Occhipinti, 517-373-2379, occhipintit@michigan.gov 

                                                                        Brad Wurfel, 517-373-7917, wurfelb@michigan.gov 

The DEQ today announced winners of the department's annual Earth Day poster contest.

More than 2,500 Michigan students in grades K-5 submitted artwork focused on the environment for this year's contest. The contest is designed to raise environmental awareness among students by giving them an opportunity to design a poster explaining what they think Earth Day is all about.

DEQ Director Dan Wyant will honor the winners during the department's Earth Day celebration event at the agency's headquarters in Lansing. Participant posters will decorate the walls of DEQ Headquarters, and a ceremony will honor the 12 winners.

The winners are:

Kindergarten 

1^st Place:         Matthew Devine                      Elmwood Elementary, St. Claire Shores, MI

2^nd Place:        Benjamin Cook                       Auburn Area Catholic School, Aurburn, MI

1^st Grade

1^st Place:         Alyssa Doran                          Steenland Elementary, Roseville, MI

2^nd Place:        Makayla Paul                          St. Gerard Catholic School, Lansing, MI

2^nd Grade

1^st Place:         Ralph Helfrich                         St. Patrick Catholic School, Carleton, MI

2^nd Place:        Ava Durand                             H.T. Smith Elementary, Fowlerville, MI

3^rd Grade

1^st Place:         Ethan Jowett                           St. Gerard Catholic School, Lansing, MI

2^nd Place:        Hailey Prokop                         St. Gerard Catholic School, Lansing, MI

4^th Grade

1^st Place:         Alana Asmar                           Harwood Elementary, Sterling Heights, MI

2^nd Place:        Tina Thieu                               St. Gerard Catholic School, Lansing, MI

5^th Grade

1^st Place:         Jerez Rinehart                        Chapman Elementary, Rockwood, MI

2^nd Place:        Ethan Bassila                          St. Gerard Catholic School, Lansing, MI

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

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