NEWARK, Del. — The New Castle Conservation District received more than 200 entries in the 2020 conservation poster contest, which was open to Delaware public, charter, private, and home-schooled students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Posters were judged on the 2020 theme – “Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators” in five grade categories. Poster winners received cash awards in the amount of $50, $25, and $15.
In grade category K-1, first place went to Umar Udeel from Tarbuyah School, second place went to Nandana Kalluru from Linden Hill E. S. and third place went to Ahsan Kunwar from Tarbiyah School.
In grade category 2-3, first place county and state went to Dhriti Vadlamani from Cedar Lane E. S., second place went to Bhavya Sri Kautharapu from Linden Hill E. S. and third place went to Marina DeYoung Winstead from Linden Hill E. S.
In grade category 4-6, first place county and state went to Reena Patel from Odyssey Charter School, second place went to Megan Le from P. S. DuPont M. S. and third place went to Nicole Tran from Cooke E. S.
In grade category 7-9, first place county and state went to Rishitha Guddapalli from Cab Calloway School of the Arts, second place went to Shereen Gattu from Cab Calloway School of the Arts and third place went to Gwenna Foulk from Alfred Waters M. S.
In grade category 10-12, first place county and state went to Eason Li from Tower Hill School, second place went to Gia D’Ambrosio from Del Castle Technical High School and third place went to Mackenzie Ruiz from Appoquinimink High School.
In the computer/digital poster category for grades 9-12, first place went to Langley Grace Marvel from Del Castle Technical High School, second place went to Keanni Castro at Appoquinimink High School, and third place went to Brooke Wilfong from Newark High School.
Winning posters can be viewed at www.newcastlecd.org. This annual poster contest provides students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of local conservation districts and their state and national associations. The contest follows the annual stewardship theme developed and sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. The 2021 theme, “Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities,” reminds the public that trees and forests play a vital role in maintaining the health of local and global ecosystems, both urban and rural. For more information visit www.nacdnet.org.
–Rick Mickowski, DNREC