Governor Honors Fifth-Grade Arbor Day Poster Winner

When Holly Thomas, a fifth-grader at Monte Sano Elementary School in Huntsville, set out working on her Arbor Day poster, she never imagined her efforts would culminate in personal praise from the governor of Alabama.

(Left: Alabama Gov. Bob Riley autographs a shovel for Holly Thomas, winner of this year’s Arbor Day Poster Contest.)

Thomas, along with two runners-up in the Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest --- Blake Fountain of Crossville Elementary School and Sam Barnes of St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Cullman --- joined Governor Bob Riley on Wednesday, Feb. 3, for the annual Arbor Day tree planting on the Alabama Capitol grounds.

In addition to a $50 award and a one-year membership in the Alabama Urban Forestry Association, Thomas also received a proclamation from Governor Riley setting aside Feb. 20--26 as Alabama Arbor Week and calling on “each and every citizen to participate in tree-planting activities during this week.”

Thomas will also participate in the Official Arbor Day celebration in Montevallo, Feb. 26.

Her poster is based on the theme “Trees Are Terrific and Energy Wise.” She drew her inspiration for her drawing from the wires in a light bulb. Her poster depicts a tree silhouetted by a light bulb in the foreground of a city skyline to show how communities throughout the nation derive energy from the nation’s forestry resources.

Riley, a strong believer in the value of Arbor Day celebrations, reminisced about his own childhood experience of planting pecan trees with his brother at the urging of his father.

“That was 40-something years ago, but I never go by that tree without thinking, ‘That’s my tree.’”

One thing that has distinguished Alabama from many other states is its abundant forestry resources, says Riley, who believes the state’s “special quality of life would not be the same without trees.”

This marks the eighth year that Alabama has celebrated Arbor Day through a statewide poster contest, according to Dr. David West, coordinator of Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Calhoun County office.

Between 1,200 and 1,500 fifth-graders throughout the state participate in the competition each year.

Sponsors of the Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest include the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Urban Forestry Association, the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Toyota Motor Company, the Alabama Forestry Association and the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Thomas’ poster will now be entered into the nationwide competition, representing 48 states and the District of Columbia.

[Source: Dr. David West, Calhoun County Extension Office Coordinator, (256) 237-1621.]

Posted by Jim Langcuster at February 24, 2005 01:57 PM