SUBJECT: Centennial contest winners get a ‘high five’ from Governor

MONTPELIER – Winners of the Forestry Centennial “If Trees Could Talk …” art and writing contest got personal congratulations from Governor Jim Douglas at a special Statehouse ceremony today.

Eight winners were chosen from the more than 500 students who portrayed in picture or prose their appreciation of forests as part of the Forestry Centennial Celebration, sponsored by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

“The Forestry Centennial is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the role of our forests and renew our commitment to this vital environmental and economic resource,” the Governor said. “As we begin our second century, Vermont’s forests will continue to flourish with the support of all who cherish and respect this tremendous resource.”

One art entry and one writing entry were chosen as winners in each of the following age groups: grades K-2; grades 3-5; grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. Winning entries can be seen online at: http://www.vtfpr.org/htm/for_cen_contests.cfm

Grand prizes are a one-year season’s pass to Vermont State Parks and a Forestry Centennial Celebration commemorative wooden log truck.

“With children today watching over 30 hours of television a week, this contest was a unique opportunity for Vermont’s youth to take time to think about forests and trees — to slow down and consider experiences in nature and use these memories to inspire creative work,” the Governor said. “Their work highlights the important relationship Vermonters have with our forests. With this early understanding of this relationship, Vermont’s forests will be in good hands for the next 100 years.”

Forestry Centennial Winners are:

Writing:

K-2nd—

1st place: William Douglas, Grade 1, Groton

2nd place: Connor North, Grade 2, Stowe

3rd-5th—

1st place: Emily Bushey, Grade 4, Clarendon

2nd: Ashlynn Foster, Grade 3, Middlebury

6th-8th—

1st place: Sossina Gutama, Grade 8

2nd: Kayla Glazer, Grade 8

9th-12th—

1st: Orion Kafka, Grade 11, Fairfax

Art:

K-2nd—

1st: Calista Hanna, Grade 2, Barre

2nd: Dylan Young, Grade 2, West Danville

3rd-5th—

1st: Sean Apps, Grade 4, Bondville

2nd: Madison Scholander, Grade 4, Bondville

6th-8th—

1st: Kate Gottsegen, Grade 6, Woodstock

2nd: Shelli Wagner, Grade 6, Granville

9th-12th—

1st: Rebecca Shores, Grade 11, Manchester Center

2nd: Kristen Palmer, Grade 12, East Dorset

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