Harford County government, in partnership with Harford County Public Schools' Resource Conservation Program, recently honored participants in the fifth annual Conservation and Stewardship Poster Contest. The poster contest challenges students from all grades to create original artwork inspiring others to efficiently use and reuse our resources.
This year's theme was entitled Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink. Four winners were selected from more than 360 poster entries received. The posters were judged on artistic merit, creativity and interpretation of the assigned theme. The four winning posters will be reproduced and displayed in Harford County government offices, Harford County Public Library and Harford County Public Schools.
The four winning student artists will be profiled on Harford Cable Network's "Harford Kids TV News" program, airing in winter 2015, to share the inspirations for their posters. The students were also honored for their achievements by their families and teachers on Dec. 8 at the Eden Mill Nature Center, a Harford County park comprised of 117 acres nestled along Deer Creek in the northern area of the county.
The four winning artists were Maeve Acerno, a first-grader from Fountain Green Elementary School; Livia Earl, a fourth-grader from Ring Factory Elementary School; and Ashley Chan and Katrina Burbey, both seventh-graders from Donna Hott's class at Southampton Middle School.
Attending the ceremony were Maeve's mother, Ann Acreno, her teacher, Keisha Nandalal, and Alison Donnelly, principal at Fountain Green Elementary School. Maeve enjoys reading, writing, gym, art, singing, dancing and cooking.
Supporting Livia at the ceremony were her parents, Erica Johnston-Earl and George Earl, and two brothers, Malcolm and Jake, along with her teacher, Nicole Oakley, and Ring Factory Elementary School Principal Earl Gaskins. Speaking of her plans for the future, Livia said that when she becomes president, she will "get companies to sell green products and protect animals."
Katrina was accompanied at the ceremony by her father, Doug Burbey. Her goal is to become a zoologist.
Ashley was joined at the celebration by her parents, Sharron Chan and Stanley Chan, and brother Matthew. She said her artwork was inspired by crafting with creatively repurposed items.
The enthusiasm of these students, along with all of the student artwork submitted, inspire everyone to re-evaluate ways to efficiently use and reuse resources.
To learn more about the poster contest or to request a poster to display in office, contact Harford County Sustainability Coordinator Erin Ferriter, Ph.D., eferriter@harfordcountymd.gov or 410-638-4707.