2009 Illinois Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest winners announced

SPRINGFIELD — Several Bureau County students were announced April 6 as the winners of the Illinois segment of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest’s goal is to teach environmental science through the arts. The Junior Duck Stamp program is patterned on the adult Federal Duck Stamp Contest.

In the Group III category for grades 7-9, Eddie Garland and Logan Barnas, both of Bureau Valley High School and instructed by Sheila Heth, were named as first-place winners. Aubrey Molln of LaMoille High School, and taught by Gretchen Fitzpatrick, was a second-place winner. In third place, Abby Blackert and Olivia McDonald, both of Bureau Valley High School, were recognized.

In Group IV for grades 10-12, Bureau Valley students Laura Brummel received second place while Lexie Walters and Brandon Clark received third place.

Winners were chosen from among 475 entries, and the entrants were from public, private and home schools, as well as private art studios.

All students who place first, second, third or honorable mention received a ribbon, and all participants received a certificate.

The annual contest is part of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, administered in Illinois by the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the IDNR. All of the winning entries can be seen at http://dnr.state.il.us/education/classrm/ribbon/main.htm.