
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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Environmental Progress - Spring 2002

Environmental Progress : Spring 2002

Young Environmentalists Feted at Honors Event

Reception recognizes students' creative efforts

Photo: Contest winners enjoying the view from the 29th floor of the Springfield Hilton

Dave Kolaz, Bureau of Air Chief, and four winners share a birds-eye view of Springfield 29 floors below.

Five of the six top place winners in the IEPA's 15th annual environmental awareness program were presented with U.S. bonds, ribbons, certificates and environmental books for their school libraries during an honors reception on May 4 at the Springfield Hilton. Parents, teachers and family members of the fifth and sixth grade students whose works made it into the top 50 finalists were invited to attend.

The five top place winners recognized during the ceremony included Daniel Borup and David Weisbaum, both of Countryside School, Champaign; Chelsea Dorsey, Delavan CUSD #703 Elementary School, Delavan; Julia Galloway, St. Lawrence O'Toole School, Steger; and Sarah Puchalski, St. Christina School, Chicago. Michael Howley, St. Daniel the Prophet School, Chicago, was unable to attend.

Borup submitted a poster, and Weisbaum entered a prose work. Dorsey created a poster and Galloway entered a poem. Puchalski won with both a poster and a poem. Howley's winning entry was a poem.

This year's theme was "The Air We Breathe," and focused students' attention on the need for clean air and sources of pollution that threatens it. Dave Kolaz, chief of the Agency's Bureau of Air, was guest speaker at the reception.

Following the presentation of awards, guests were invited to examine the entries and enjoy refreshments, as well as the view of Springfield from the hotel's 29th floor.

The works of the finalists as well as the winning entries were later put on display in the atrium entrance of the Agency's Springfield headquarters, and the top three written works and posters will be on the Agency's web site at www.epa.state.il.us in the "Kids & Education" section.

What We Want To See

Imagine a bright blue sky
and the sun that shines over
mountains so high,
deep blue seas
and dark green trees.

No more gray smoke in the sky,
or gray shadows blocking the
sun over mountains so high,
or garbage in the seas
or plastic bags hanging in the trees.

If this is what you want
the world to be,
help make it pollution free.