Hesemann Takes Second Place
by Mrs. Amy Bang
May 14, 2008
Congratulations to Arianna Hesemann for taking second place for her Roadsides Are For The Birds poster! She also received special recognition for biological accuracy. Arianna receives several prizes, including 4 unframed prints/posters and several publications. Her poster, along with the top 40 prizewinners, will be on display at the MN Deer Classic and Sports Show in March of 2009.
Other local winners include Immanuel Lutheran School eighth graders Kaitlyn John of Lakefield (4th place) and Arianna Salzwedel of Okabena (Honorable Mention).
NEWS RELEASE
DNR ANNOUNCES STUDENT POSTER CONTEST WINNERS
Seventh and eighth grade students from Walnut Grove and Champlin were the top winners in the 24th annual Department of Natural Resources (DNR) “Roadsides Are For The Birds” poster contest.
Tara Kelley and Nolan Isaacson of Jackson Middle School in Champlin, and Maureen Yang of Westbrook Walnut Grove Middle School in Walnut Grove were selected as grand prizewinners. Students from 23 schools entered works in this year’s contest.
“The purpose of the contest,” said Carmelita Nelson, DNR Roadsides for Wildlife Coordinator at St. Paul, “is to help increase awareness of the growing importance of roadsides for wildlife, particularly ground nesting birds. As wildlife habitat continues to disappear, roadsides nesting habitat is becoming more critical.” Roadsides can provide bird-nesting habitat if mowing and other disturbances of roadsides are delayed until after the nesting season, usually around August 1.
In addition to the grand prize winners, special recognition awards in the contest went to:
* Arianna Hesemann of Southwest Star Concept Secondary School in Okabena for biological accuracy
* Tara Kelley of Jackson Middle School in Champlin for expression of theme
* Lucas Rorvick of Jackson Middle School in Champlin for pen/pencil
* Erin Swendsen of Monticello Middle School in Monticello for creative use of material
* Michelle Armstrong of Holy Spirit School in St. Paul for humor
* Staff’s Choice Award went to Nolan Isaacson of Jackson Middle School in Champlin
Prizes and contributions for the contest were donated by: Wildlife Heritage Association; Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. – Steele County; Pheasants Forever; New Ulm Chapter of the Izaak Walton League; Minnesota Waterfowl Association; National Camera Exchange, Golden Valley; and the DNR Roadsides Program. Ross Frame Shop and Universal Framing, both of Minneapolis and The Frame Gallery of New Ulm, donated framing of the posters.
The three grand prizewinners will also have their work displayed during the 2008 Minnesota State Fair in the DNR building. Works of the top 40 prizewinners will be displayed at the Minnesota Deer Classic and Sports Show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, March 13 – 15th, 2009. Contest judges were: Helen Owens, retired art instructor at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Middle School; retired DNR wildlife manager Paul Bremer of Arlington; and Dona Larkin, Renville artist.
