Environmental Progress - Spring 2000

Young Artists, Writers Honored for Efforts

Fifth, sixth graders increased their water knowledge in annual program

Fifth and sixth graders from around Illinois were guests of honor March 25 when the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency hosted an awards reception at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield. Six youngsters received U.S. savings bonds, books, ribbons and certificates for submitting winning posters or written works on the importance of "Water: the Liquid of Life" earlier in the spring.

The state capitol dome forms a background as the winners display their awards. From left are Katy Thomson, Candace Schmidt, Agnes Klimek, IEPA's Bud Bridgewater, Katelyn Lotz, Lynsi Hermann and Alex Johnson. Bridgewater, chief of field services for the Bureau of Water, presented the awards during the honors reception.

Named as top entrants in the poster category were Alex Johnson, Macomb, a student at Edison School, Katelyn Lotz, Macomb, a student at Edison School; and Candace Schmidt, Lincoln, a student at West Lincoln Broadwell School. Winning essays or poems were submitted by Lynsi Hermann, Bartonville, a student at Oak Grove East School; Agnes Klimek, Chicago, who attends Louis Pasteur School, and Katy Thomson, Matteson, a student at St. Lawrence O'Toole school. Two students, Kendyl Lyons, Sidell, Jamaica Elementary School, and Julia Markotay, Sparta, Sparta Lincoln Middle School, had entries in both the poster and written competitions make it into the finalist category.

More than 39,000 students were enrolled in the education effort

Last fall, 700 teachers representing 39,184 students in fifth and sixth grades in Illinois schools signed up for the Agency's 13th annual "Air, Land & Water" environmental education effort. At the end of a two week focus on the importance of safe drinking water and steps to protect it, the students were asked to create posters or written works illustrating what they had learned.

Emphasis in the "Air, Land & Water" program rotates on a three year basis between protection of water, land and air. The curriculum is currently being revised to meet the standards of the North American Association for Environmental Education Guidelines for Excellence. The updated version will be available for the 2000-2001 school year.

A total of 106 eligible entries underwent an initial evaluation at the IEPA state headquarters in Springfield to select finalists, and a second panel of judges then selected three top received a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, and a specially inscribed environmental book for their school libraries. All finalists received certificates and ribbons.

The youngsters, their families and teachers were invited to the reception. The winning entries will remain on display at the State Museum through April 30 and the entrants and their winning creations will be featured on the Illinois EPA's homepage at www.epa.state.il.us.