News Releases - 1997

Young Artists, Writers Honored For Creative Environmental Works

Springfield, Ill. -- U.S. Savings Bonds and individually inscribed environmental books for their school libraries were presented to six young writers and artists by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Springfield on March 15. Presentations to the fifth grade winners in the Agency's 10th annual environmental education program were made during an evening reception at the First of America Bank.

More than 37,000 Illinois students took part in the program during January, studying environmental issues, then illustrating what they learned through posters or poetry or prose compositions. Each participating school is eligible to send one entry in each category for judging in Springfield. Fifth grade teachers in approximately 650 Illinois schools participated this year.

Winners in the poster category were Michael Hochstetler, Dee-Mack Middle School, Deer Creek; James Sharpe, Link School, Elk Grove; and Brandon Wittchen, O'Donnell School, Aurora.

In the poems/prose category, top award winners were Justine Bland, Lostant School, Lostant; Michael Godziszewski, St. Eugene School, Chicago, and Kristy Woolard, Witt Middle School, Witt.

The works chosen as finalists and prize winners will remain on display at the First of America Bank through March 21, 1997.

Theme of the contest this year was "Water: the Liquid of Life."

James Park, chief of the Bureau of Water in the Illinois EPA, congratulated the winners and finalists on their creative efforts, and urged them to be leaders in encouraging everyday activities to reduce pollution and protect the environment they will inherit.

"This Agency has always been a strong advocate of environmental education," Park said. "Today's youngsters will be the environmental policy makers of tomorrow, and it is important for you, today, to start thinking about how to protect the world you will have to live in tomorrow, and that you will in turn leave to generations that follow you."

Joining Park in presenting the awards were Roger Selburg, manager of the Division of Public Water Supplies; Janet Hawes-Davis, the Agency's Environmental Education Coordinator, and Dennis McMurray, manager of the Office of Public Information.

Winners and finalists are invited to attend the reception with their families, teachers and school principals. Finalists were recognized individually and received a ribbon and certificate of participation.

A list of all finalists is attached.

1997 Finalists, Illinois EPA Environmental Awareness Program