Talented Area Youth Honored in State Youth Art Contests
The Alabama Wildlife Federation teamed up again with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to honor this year’s top winners in the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s William R. Ireland Sr. Youth Wildlife Art Contest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
For over thirty years, the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s William R. Ireland Sr. Youth Wildlife Art Contest has recognized the outstanding artistic abilities of Alabama’s students, while increasing students’ knowledge and awareness of wildlife and wildlife habitat in Alabama. The Alabama Wildlife Federation requires students to research their subject to learn more about the species and its habitat requirements.
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest design is a term paper in which students use visual rather than verbal articulation to show what they have learned. Participants select a species of North American waterfowl, research this species and its habitat, and then depict the waterfowl in an artistic medium.
Both contests were open to art studio, home school, private and public school students in grades K-12 across Alabama; and over 500 students from over 100 schools participated in this year’s contests. An awards luncheon for the top winners was held on April 11, 2015, at the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Headquarters in Millbrook where they were awarded plaques and tote bags full of new art supplies. (For individual photos of the winners with their plaques and tote bags, visit our website at http://www.alabamawildlife.org/youth-wildlife-art-contest/.) After the awards luncheon, the students and their families were able to enjoy the activities at the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Flora & Fauna Arts Festival.
Congratulations to the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s William R. Ireland Sr. Youth Wildlife Art Contest winners below!
Art Studio Division 1st Place Winners are as follows:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Category – Austin J. Zhan, a 2nd grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art Studio in Lee County, painted a Great Blue Heron using acrylics;
3rd-5th Grade Category – Victoria Wang, a 5th grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art Studio in Lee County, painted a Bobcat using acrylics;
6th-8th Grade Category – Eric Wang, a 7th grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Raccoon using acrylics; and
9th-12th Grade Category – Annie Zhang, a 10th grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Northern Cardinal using acrylics.
Home School Division 1st Place Winners are as follows:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Category – Leelan Young, a 1st grade student of Rayleen Young under the Everest Academy home school group in Chilton County, created a Nine-Banded Armadillo using colored pencils;
3rd-5th Grade Category – Aislie Casey, a 5th grade student of Cheryl Casey under the Marshall County Home School group created a Blue Jay using colored pencils, pencils and ink;
6th-8th Grade Category – Sarah Pauly, a 6th grade student of Stacey Pauley under the Ezekiel Academy home school group in Montgomery County, created a Monarch Butterfly using colored pencils; and
9th-12th Grade Category – Savannah Meek, a tenth grade student of Everest Academy home school group in Calhoun County, created a Red Fox using colored pencils and pastels.
Private School Division 1st Place Winners are as follows:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Category – Meredith Williams, a 2nd grade student of Houston Academy in Houston County, created a Beach Mouse using colored pencils;
3rd-5th Grade Category – Megan Field, a 5th grade student of Covenant Christian in Baldwin County, created Monarch Butterfly using watercolor;
6th-8th Grade Category – Nina Collins, a student of Central Christian School in Baldwin County, created a Eastern Milk Snake using colored pencils; and
9th-12th Grade Category – Natalin Cody, a student of Central Christian School in Baldwin County, created a Sea Turtle using scratchboard.
Public School Division 1st Place Winners are as follows:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Category – Blythe Menefee, a 2nd grade student of Janie Gover at Blue Springs Elementary in Limestone County, painted a Bald Eagle with pencils and markers;
3rd-5th Grade Category – Victor Song, a 4th grade student of Traci Ingleright at Gwin Elementary in Jefferson County, created a Cedar Waxwing using colored pencils;
6th-8th Grade Category – David Dauphin, a student from Liberty Park Middle in Jefferson County, created a Blue Indigo Snake using colored pencils; and
9th-12th Grade Category – Maggie Pierce, a student from Satsuma High School in Mobile County, created White-tailed Deer using colored acrylics.
April Waltz, Alabama Wildlife Federation Conservation Education Specialist states, “We enjoy providing an opportunity for students to express their creativity through our William R. Ireland Sr. Youth Wildlife Art Contest while learning about Alabama’s native wildlife, and we greatly appreciate all of the wonderful teachers and parents who take the time to work with their talented students and children to participate in our program.”
Congratulations to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest Winners below!
Kindergarten-3rd Grade Category 1st Place Winners were as follows:
Austin J. Zhan, a 2nd grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Hooded Merganser using acrylics;
Lily Tao, a 2nd grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Canada Goose using acrylics;
Grace Xiang, a 1st grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Green-winged Teal using acrylics;
4th-6th Grade Category 1st Place Winners were as follows:
Emma Kate Rose, a 5th grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Harlequin Duck using acrylics;
Rachel Tao, a student of 6th grade Barbara Keel Lunsford at Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Northern Shoveler using acrylics; and
Issac Schreiber, a 4th grade student of Ruth Schreiber under the American Christian Academy home-school group in Saint Clair County, painted a Mallard Duck using acrylics.
7th-9th Grade Category 1st Place Winners were as follows:
Kenadie Clark, a 9th grade student of Catherine Wood at Saraland High in Mobile County, painted a Canvasback using colored pencils.
Minji Kim, a 9th grade student of Katrina Lee from Fine Art Studio in Mobile County, painted a Blue-winged Teal using colored pencils; and
Raymond Yu, a 9th student of Barbara Keel Lunsford from Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a American Widgeon using acrylics.
10th-12th Grade Category 1st Place Winners were as follows:
Xinrei Zhang, a 10th grade student of Barbara Keel Lunsford from Barbara Keel Art School in Lee County, painted a Mallard Duck using acrylics;
Julie Bae, a 10th grade student of Katrina Lee from Fine Art Studio in Mobile County, painted a Mallard Duck using acrylics; and
The Best of Show award for the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest went to Timothy Schreiber, a student of Ruth Schreiber under the American Christian Academy home school group in Saint Clair County, painted a Mallard Duck using acrylics. Timothy’s painting will go on to represent Alabama in the national Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
Kevin Hamrick, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State Coordinator states, “The purpose of this program is to enhance and teach wetland habitats and water conservation to K-12th grade students, while allowing them to express their artistic talents. It is important for teachers and parents to help encourage and refine such special talents these gifted students possess.”
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