2013 Contest Results

On Saturday, March 23, Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett honored a group of distinguished Illinois fifth and sixth grade students selected for their creative skills used to express environmental awareness, as part of the Agency's 26 ^th annual Poster, Poetry and Prose Contest. This year's theme focused on storm water pollution and ways to prevent it with Lending a Hand to Protect Our Precious Land!

The writers and artists selected from throughout Illinois were recognized at a reception in the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield.

"For more than a quarter of a century, thousands of fifth and sixth grade students have creatively demonstrated the importance of good environmental stewardship and passed this knowledge on to others as important life lessons that go beyond the classroom," said Director Bonnett.

Poetry/Prose Top Award Winners:

Young artists whose posters placed in the top six slots were:

A panel from the Illinois EPA judged all entries and selected the finalists, whose entries were then judged by an outside panel of authorities, to determine the top 12 winners.

Each spring, students learn about environmental protection of the air, land, and water through the Agency's environmental education guide, "Environmental Pathways –Youth Investigating Pollution Issues in Illinois." Following the completion of the guide, students use their creative talents to visually articulate, in the form of a poster or a written work, their ideas of how they can protect our precious resources — air, land, and water. Special emphasis is given to one of those three areas on an annual, rotating basis with this year's focus being on preventing land pollution.

The students, their families, and teachers were invited to the reception at which the top 12 winners received environmental reference books for their school libraries. The winners, along with all finalists, also received certificates and ribbons for their creative efforts. In addition to the award, tours of the Old State Capitol were given to winners before and after the awards ceremony.

Following the ceremony, the winning entries will be on exhibit in the atrium at Illinois EPA's Springfield headquarters from March 25 through April 26 and the top 12 entries will be featured on the Illinois EPA's web site.

Information about the annual event can be obtained by contacting Kristi Morris, environmental education coordinator for the Illinois EPA at 1021 North Grand Avenue E., P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL, 62794-9276.