FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2010

IDNR Announces Illinois Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners

Fifth Graders Highlight the Theme “Trees are Terrific…and Energy Wise!”

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller today announced the winners of the 2010 Illinois Arbor Day Poster Contest, with the theme “Trees are Terrific…and Energy Wise!” 

The first-place award winner in the Illinois poster competition among fifth-grade students from throughout the state is Hannah Fuller of Jonesboro Elementary School in Jonesboro (Union Co.).

“Young artists across the state participating in the poster contest have a better understanding of the important role trees play in providing energy and helping us save energy through planting the right tree in the right location,” Director Miller said. “Arbor Day activities are a great way to grow our youth’s natural resource IQ so they become conservation-minded citizens. As with all of the IDNR’s youth education programs, this contest leaves no child indoors.”

The Arbor Day Poster Contest was open to all public, private, and home-schooled fifth graders in Illinois.  Individual schools are responsible for local poster contest judging, with the individual school winners sent on to the IDNR for the statewide judging.  This year, 84 schools and more than 1,250 students in fifth grade classes participated in local poster contests.

All winners receive awards provided by the contest sponsors, including the IDNR, the Illinois Arborist Association, Society of American Foresters and the Arbor Day Foundation.  Awards were books about trees and the environment, gift certificates, posters, and book bags.  Teachers received educational materials for the classroom for their participation. 
 
“This year, the fifth grade students learned about the energy benefits of trees,” said Reinee Hildebrandt, poster contest administrator.  “They learned how trees block the sun to cool our homes and also block winter winds to help us reduce winter heating costs.  When used for firewood, trees are an energy source.”

This year’s observance of Arbor Day is April 30.  Images of the first- through fifth-place award-winning posters can be seen on the IDNR web site at this link: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/urbanforestry/poster.htm

The winners of the 2010 Illinois Arbor Day Poster Contest are listed below:

1st PLACE STUDENT: HANNAH FULLER
JONESBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 309 Cook St., Jonesboro, IL 62952
TEACHER: SUZANNE CARTER

2nd PLACE STUDENT:  NICHOLAS RIX
ALICE GUSTAFSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 905 Carlisle Rd., Batavia, IL 60510 
TEACHER: CHRISTINE RALSTON

3rd PLACE STUDENT: OLIVIA KORNACKI
DEVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 3436 N. Osceola Ave., Chicago, IL 60634
TEACHER: DARCY NICKEL

4th PLACE STUDENT: KAYLA LESCH
SKOKIE SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL, 9301 Grosspoint Rd., Skokie, IL 60076
TEACHER: HALLIE REDMAN

5th PLACE STUDENT: KAYLA DEANG
MOKENA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, 11331 W. 195th St., Mokena, IL 60448
TEACHER: DIANA LEO

6th PLACE STUDENT: EMELI BARRADAS
WAUCONDA GRADE SCHOOL, 225 Osage St., Wauconda, IL 60084
TEACHER: MRS. MICHALINE SCHMIDT

7th PLACE STUDENT: LAUREN HEINZMAN
ST. MARY’S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, 1416 Main St., Mount Vernon, IL 62864
TEACHER: LAURA SKORCH

8th PLACE STUDENT: JULISSA GARCIA
WHARTON SCHOOL, 7555 W. 64th St., Summit, IL 60501                                 
TEACHER: MRS. BEKIME ZUPANI

9th PLACE STUDENT: QUINNIE CALVERT
WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 612 N. George St., Clinton, IL 61727
TEACHER: KIM SPOHN

10th PLACE STUDENT: MARY WEGMAN
ST. ANTHONY GRADE SCHOOL, 405 N. 2nd St., Effingham, IL 62401           
TEACHER: MRS. TWILA WENTE

HONORABLE MENTION: ALEXIS GONZALEZ
OAK GLEN SCHOOL, 2101 – 182nd St., Lansing, IL 60438
TEACHER: DAVID CORRIE

HONORABLE MENTION: GRAYSON CARVER
ST. MALACHY, 340 E. Belle Ave., Rantoul, IL 61866
TEACHER: CHRISTY SCHURTER