PRESQUE ISLE — Maine Public Service awarded five students $100 savings bonds for first-place Earth Day essays and posters, created to identify the theme: “Think of what you can do on a regular basis to help protect Aroostook County’s beauty and preserve its natural resources. Include a description of changes you have made in your own life that have enabled you or your family to make a difference.”
Contributed artwork
Alaina Quinlan, grade 2, of Hilltop Elementary School drew the poster above.
The winners were announced in honor of Earth Day, April 22. First-place winners receive a recognition plaque, $100 savings bond, and a gift certificate donated by Maine Potato Growers. Teachers of the first-place winners receive an environment book. Second-place winners receive a plaque and $75 savings bonds. Third-place winners receive a plaque and $50 savings bonds. All winners receive an Earth Day T-shirt, and all participants receive Earth Day certificates of achievement. Look for the posters and essays, at the Aroostook Centre Mall.
This year’s poster winners are: first place, Alaina Quinlan, Grade 2, Hilltop School, Caribou; second place, Abigail Sirois, Grade K, Madawaska Elementary School; and third place, Avery Tompkins, Grade 2, Pine Street School, Presque Isle. A poster drawn by Carter Quist, Grade 2, Hilltop School, was selected for honorable mention.
Winning essays for Grade 3-5 are: first place, Andrew Seder, Grade 3, Houlton Elementary School; second place, Kameron Landry, Grade 5, Madawaska Elementary School; and third place, Sarah Kuptchik, Grade 5, Madawaska Elementary School. Honorable mention was awarded to Taylor BIllings, Grade 5, of Zippel Elementary School and Devin Rioux, grade 5, Wallagrass Elementary School.
Grade 6-8 winners are: first place, Alyssa Kennedy, Grade 7, Van Buren Middle School; second place, Kelsey Dominique, Grade 6, Fort Street School; and third place, Isabel Parent, Grade 8, Van Buren Middle School. Honorable mention was awarded to Emily Dumond, Grade 8, Van Buren Middle School.
Winners in the Grade 9-10 division are: first place, Madison Michaud, Grade 10, Presque Isle High School; second place, Shelby Cummings, Grade 9, Southern Aroostook Community School; and third place, Brooke Lilley, Grade 9, of Southern Aroostook Community School. Honorable mention was awarded to Drew Barrett, grade 10, Presque Isle High School.
Contributed artwork
This poster was drawn by Carter Quist, grade 2, of Hilltop Elementary School.
Winners of the 11-12 division are: Sam Clukey, Grade 11, Presque Isle High School; second Place, Jaylee Fox, Grade 12, Presque Isle High School; and third place is awarded to Kent Smith, Grade 11 of Presque Isle High School. Honorable mention was awarded to Chelsea Simonds, Grade 11, Presque Isle High School.
April 22, 2011, marks the 41st anniversary of the original Earth Day. The international focus on Earth Day reflects the global scope of all major environmental issues, including global warming, deforestation, ozone depletion, the rain forest, renewable energy resources, energy conservation, and hazardous, toxic wastes.
Sue Brown, Lucas Ireland, Sherri Jordan, and Nancy Chandler from Maine Public Service Company judged the Earth Day entries.
Pleased with the huge number of participants in the contest, MPS Supervisor of Conservation and Education Services Nancy Chandler said, “This year we received more than 500 creative ideas from writers and artists. Creative ways of celebrating Earth Day’s 41st anniversary and keeping Aroostook County pristine ranged from picking up trash left by others, preventing littering in the woods, and recycling more than just cans and bottles for five cents.”
One third-grade writer states, “I think Aroostook County has a lot of good natural resources. We have rivers, lakes, trees, blackberries, blueberries, maple syrup, and many animals. All of these things also help to create tourism, which really helps Aroostook County and we can protect our natural resources by replanting trees that get cut down and using all the parts of the trees!”
An eighth-grade student writes, “Instead of having long showers, people can take shorter and less hot showers than usual. It would save a lot of water and energy. Instead of making many trips to any place you have to go, people can car pool or wait a couple of days until they need more supplies. My family tries to help by recycling and giving clothes we don’t need to thrift shops!”
“There are many ways we can celebrate Earth Day. Maine Public Service is proud to celebrate Earth Day through the many talented writers and artist in its service territory. Remember you can make a difference during this 4first anniversary of Earth Day. One student reminds us that Aroostook County is a very beautiful place, and that beauty needs to be retained. It is very important to preserve its natural resources so that the next generation and the one after that can have the same opportunities that we did. Plant a tree, fix a leaky faucet, use both sides of the paper, carpool, use fluorescent bulbs, and turn things off when you are done using them — just some of the many suggestions from the Earth Day essayist,” said Chandler.
