Tacoma students showed their artistic side when they entered the 2009 EnviroChallenger/ EnviroKids Earth Day art contest. More than 100 students entered the contest, which asked elementary and middle school students to show what Tacoma would look like if everyone used the five Rs — reduce, reuse, recycle, respect and responsible — to keep their parks, schools, neighborhoods and city clean.
The 5 Rs are taught to students by the City of Tacoma’s EnviroChallenger educators, and judging by the art the students turned in, it’s clear they understand how to make Tacoma a greener, cleaner place to live.
The drawings from each of the nine winners along with the runners-up can be seen at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/envirokids . Also, a compilation poster of the winning pieces can be seen at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Tacoma Nature Center and each of Tacoma’s public library branches.
The winners are:
GRADES K-2 DIVISION
— 1st place, Brett Delozier, second grade, Pt. Defiance Elementary School
— 2nd place, Gina Garnica, second grade, Pt. Defiance Elementary School
— 3rd place, Katie Franz, second grade, Crescent Heights Elementary School
GRADES 3-5 DIVISION
— 1st place, Henry Vo, third grade, DeLong Elementary School
— 2nd place, Kylie Waddill, fifth grade, Lister Elementary School
— 3rd place, Eduard Tekmenzhi, fifth grade, Lister Elementary School
GRADES 6-8 DIVISION
— 1st place, Aarjay Narayan, sixth grade, Truman Middle School
— 2nd place, Lisa Vo, sixth grade, Hunt Middle School
— 3rd place, Larisa Trimble, sixth grade, Hunt Middle School
The EnviroChallenger program teaches free environmental lessons — with a mix of science, social responsibility and fun — to Tacoma’s public, private and home-schooled students in grades two through eight. They learn about water quality, recycling, the plight of Northwest salmon, and how their own behaviors can help make our surroundings greener and cleaner.
To view the winning works of art, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/envirokids or http://www.envirochallenger.com .
