SOCIAL CIRCLE -- Thirteen students, including South Effingham Elementary School first-grader Arjun Sheobaran, were announced Friday as statewide winners in the Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.
More than 1,300 kindergarten through fifth-grade students from 28 public schools, private schools and homeschool groups took part in the 29th annual conservation art competition held by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
Statewide winners in the four grade divisions include:
Division 1: Kindergarten
First: Harper White, age 6, Tabula Rasa The Language Academy, Atlanta.
Second: Brantley Luckey, 6, Funston Elementary, Funston.
Third: Taylor Grace Dibble, 6, St. Joseph Catholic Parish School, Athens.
Division 2: First-second grades
First: Arjun Sheobaran, age 6, first grade, South Effingham Elementary, Guyton.
Second: Magdalena Case, 8, second grade, Oakcliff Traditional Theme School, Atlanta.
Third: Youcef Zeguelli, 7, second grade, Fayetteville Elementary, Fayetteville.
Honorable Mention: Johana Montoya, 9, second grade, Funston Elementary, Funston.
Division 3: Third-fourth grades
First: Jumayna Tanha, age 10, third grade, Oakcliff Traditional Theme School, Atlanta.
Second: Alfonzo Mitchell, 9, third grade, Fayetteville Elementary, Fayetteville.
Third: Briana Baker, 10, fourth grade, Brookwood Elementary, Grovetown.
Division 4: Fifth grade
First: Clementine Plummer, age 11, High Meadows School, Roswell.
Second: Yasmin Roberson, 11, Lee County Elementary, Leesburg.
Third: Emily Bailey, 11, GEAR (Gifted Education with Academic Rigor) Program, Moultrie.
Participants entered at the local school level with drawings and paintings of native Georgia plants and animals in line with the 2019 contest theme, “Pollinator Power!” Entries were judged on aspects such as theme, originality and the quality and impact of the artwork. Top school-level entries proceeded to the state contest at The State Botanical Garden, part of the University of Georgia in Athens.
Winning submissions are showcased on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s SmugMug site, https://bit.ly/2WBtmH8. The winning artwork also is on display in the Visitor Center & Conservatory at the State Botanical Garden in Athens through May 14, along with other state-level entries.
The State Botanical Garden is home to a range of collections, displays and trails. Educational programs are offered for teachers, children and the public, including summer camps. The Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Species works to educate the public about the importance of using native plants in landscaping to attract native pollinators. Through the Connect to Protect program, the center provides native plants to schools, businesses and communities to help propagate native species. The recently opened Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden connects children to Georgia’s natural resources and history.
Learn more at http://botgarden.uga.edu or call (706) 542-1244. This public garden is a gift to visitors and Georgia residents; therefore, parking and admission are free.
The Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest is sponsored by the DNR Wildlife Resources Division, the State Botanical Garden at UGA and The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, friends group of the Wildlife Resources Division’s Wildlife Conservation Section. For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest or call the Wildlife Conservation Section, (706) 557-3226.
Georgians can support important conservation, recreation and education efforts as well as other programs for Georgia’s nongame wildlife by purchasing or renewing a bald eagle or hummingbird license plate or donating directly to the Wildlife Conservation Section. This agency depends largely on fundraisers for its mission to conserve wildlife, native plants and natural habitats. Learn more atwww.georgiawildlife.com/licenseplates and www.georgiawildlife.com/donations.
