Daphne Student Wins Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest

Lauren Stewart, a fifth-grade student at Daphne East Elementary School in Daphne won Alabama’s 2009 Arbor Day Poster Contest. Stewart and contest runners-up joined Alabama First Lady Patsy Riley on the State Capitol grounds for a tree planting ceremony Feb. 24. The students planted a live oak, a descendent of one of Auburn University’s famous Toomer’s Corner live oak trees.

Stewart, who spoke briefly about the importance of Arbor Day, received an Arbor Week Proclamation signed by Governor Bob Riley. Stewart’s poster, designed around the contest theme “Trees Are Terrific…In Cities and Towns,” was selected from more than 1,200 entries from 45 schools statewide.

Two runners-up were also recognized at the ceremony. They are second place winner Laurie Graves of Hampton Cove Elementary School in Huntsville and third place winner Duncan Warner of Cullman Christian School in Cullman. In addition to their cash awards, each student and teacher will receive other prizes provided by contest sponsors. The Alabama competition is sponsored by the Alabama Urban Forestry Association, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences, Toyota, Alabama Forestry Association, Alabama Power Company, Davey, Asplundh, and Legacy, Inc.

Stewart’s poster continues on to the national competition sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota Motor Corporation. The national winner will be selected from winners representing 48 states and the District of Columbia. The winner will be a special guest at the annual National Awards celebration held in Nebraska City, the historic hometown of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton.

The Arbor Day National Poster Contest is open to fifth-grade students in states with a designated contest coordinator. The national contest has been held since 1992 to help promote the importance of Arbor Day and tree planting. Alabama has participated since 1997. More information about the Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest is available by contacting David West at (256) 237-1621 or visiting www.aces.edu/Calhoun.

Posted by lawremc at February 26, 2009 09:37 AM | TrackBack