Not all New Mexico students are preoccupied with the latest avatar sensation or with Adequate Yearly Progress scores in their school. As proof, consider that 603 students submitted original artworks depicting ducks, geese and swans of North America in the just-completed Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Contest in New Mexico.
The entries came from Kindergarten through 12th Grade students in 28 schools, home school programs and art studio or academy classes located across the state.
The judging was held at Bosque del Apache Tuesday, Mar. 23.
The Best of Show winner in the statewide contest is a colored pencil rendering titled “A Warm Place” of a Mottled Duck with ducklings submitted by Gadsden High School 12th Grade student Lidia Avina.
Among 13 Socorro schools entries, Cottonwood Charter School students Electra Burleigh was awarded a 2nd Place, and Samantha Hurtgen won a 3rd Place; Parkview Elementary student Markeiska Lopez received a 3rd Place award, with the others to receive Honorable Mention ribbons or Certificates of Appreciation. Honorable Mention ribbons or Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to 20 students from Datil Elementary and 13 students from San Antonio Elementary who submitted entries.
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Contest is a nationwide art and science-based program for schools developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to teach greater awareness of our nation’s natural resources. The 603 New Mexico entries this year exceeded last year’s by 32 per cent.
“This outpouring of interest in nature’s creatures by New Mexico’s young folks is heartening, and bodes well for the success of future efforts to protect wetland habitats and waterfowl,” USFWS Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle said.
Entries were judged at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge by Jim Wolfe of the Ducks Unlimited National Conservation Program Committee and past New Mexico State Chairman of Ducks Unlimited; Skeeter Leard, award-winning artist and partner in Fullingim, Isenhouer, Leard Studios in Socorro; John Vradenburg, Senior Biologist at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge; Ken Garrahan, Chief of Visitor Services and Robert Murphy, biologist in the Migratory Birds Division at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in Albuquerque.
The 2010 Junior Duck competition in New Mexico was sponsored by Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR, which contributed prize money for the Best of Show and 1st Place winners.
All 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place and Honorable Mention winners will be formally recognized during a special New Mexico Junior Duck Stamp Contest Awards Ceremony at the Macey Conference Center in Socorro on May 1.
Pictured: Judges for the Junior Duck Stamp Design contest (from left): Robert Murphy, Jim Wolfe, John Vradenburg; Skeeter Leard, and Ken Garrahan, Photo by John Larson
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