Clean Water Program announces finalists in Billboard Art Contest
The Clark County Clean Water Program and the Board of County Commissioners announced the finalists in the Children's Billboard Art Contest at an open house and public ceremony on May 4. Commissioner Marc Boldt presented awards to four winning artists whose artwork will be displayed on outdoor advertising billboards throughout the county in May, June, and September 2005. Twelve Honorable Mention awards were also given.
Winners are:
• Malorie Sarkinen, 1st grade, Chief Umtuch Elementary, Battle Ground School District, Mr. Kirkpatrick, teacher. Malorie's poster, "Keep our H20 Clean," will be on a billboard at State Route 502 east of 20th Avenue in Battle Ground.
• Zoe West, 3rd Grade, Gause Elementary School, Washougal School District, Ms. Kleser, teacher. Zoe's poster, "A Wish from a Fish - Keep the Waters Clean," will be on a billboard at N.E. St. Johns south of 78th Street.
• Kieran Gilliam, 6th grade, J.D. Zellerbach Elementary, Camas School District, Mrs. Roberts, teacher. Kieran's poster, "Clean Water For Life," will be on a billboard at N.E. 117th Avenue south of NE 76th Street.
• Christina Le, 7 th grade, Hockinson Middle School, Hockinson School District, Mrs. Hubbell, teacher. Christina's poster, "You Drink It, Don't Pollute It," will be on a billboard at N.E. 72nd Avenue, north of NE 99th Street.
Honorable Mention Awards:
• Jacob Hoffman, 2nd grade, Chief Umtuch Elementary, Battle Ground School District, Mr. Kirkpatrick, teacher, for his poster "Don't Kill Our Fish."
• Olivia Pianalto, 2nd grade, Chief Umtuch Elementary, Battle Ground School District, Mr. Kirkpatrick, teacher, for her poster "Cars that Leak Oil Are Killing our Fish - Yuk!"
• Carrie Woodman, 5th grade, Lake Shore Elementary, Vancouver School District, Ms. McClelland, teacher, for her poster "Save Our Lakes - Stop Polluting."
• Makenzie Tatum, 4th grade, Salmon Creek Elementary, Vancouver School District, Mrs. Murphy, teacher, for her poster "Keep Streams Clean."
• Adam Kessel , 4th grade, Gause Elementary, Washougal School District, Ms Kleser, teacher, for his poster "We Need a Pollution Solution!"
• Nicole Sereno, 8th grade, Cascade Middle School, Evergreen School District, Mrs. Opplinger, teacher, for her poster " Where Will You Swim This Summer?"
• Chloe Lyon, 8 th grade, Gaiser Middle School, Vancouver School District, Ms. Hernon, teacher, for her poster " Pesticides Kill!"
• Mary Rose Abes, 8th grade, Gaiser Middle School, Vancouver School District, Ms. Hernon, teacher, for her poster "Water Pollution is a Deadly Solution."
• Katrina Johnson, 8th grade, Gaiser Middle School, Vancouver School District, Ms. Hernon, teacher, for her poster, " What Goes Around, Comes Around."
• Kylee Lessard, 6th grade, JD Zellerbach Elementary, Camas School District, Mrs. Dietzen, teacher, for her poster "Fish Don't Really Like Tires."
• Ana Garcia, 6th grade, Jason Lee Middle School, Vancouver School District, Mrs. Lindenmeyer, teacher, for her poster "Don't Throw Garbage into the Rivers - Save Our Fish."
• Vitaliy Kubrakov, 6th grade, Jason Lee Middle School, Vancouver School District, Mrs. Lindenmeyer, teacher, for the Poster "Prevent Oil Leaks - Don't Kill Fish."
The contest, sponsored by the Clark County Clean Water Program, invited students in kindergarten through 12th grade to help design a billboard to teach people about reducing pollution, keeping our water clean, and protecting our water resources. Students were encouraged to use their creative talents to illustrate themes such as preventing oil, pet waste, and soaps from contaminating stormwater; natural gardening; and protecting the environment from toxic chemicals. Four posters were selected from over 800 entries.
"We are very pleased with the response from students and teachers" said Cindy Stienbarger, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Public Works Clean Water Program. "We hope this was a fun and educational activity for students. Kids really care about protecting the environment and can really help us educate others about how easily our surface and drinking water can be contaminated."
Twenty-eight schools, including two private schools, and seven school districts participated in the contest which ran from November 2004 to February 2005. Judging was based on the clarity of the message, interest and appeal, and the overall readability as a roadside billboard read by passing motorists.
For more information, please contact Cindy Stienbarger, Clark County Clean Water Program, (360) 397-6118 ext. 4584.
Jodi Thomas - May 2005