PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Maine Public Service awarded five students $100 savings bonds for first-place Earth Day essays and posters, created to identify the theme: “Think of what you can do on a regular basis to help protect Aroostook County’s beauty and preserve its natural resources. Include a description of changes you have made in your own life that have enabled you or your family to make a difference.”
The winners were announced in honor of Earth Day, April 22. First-place winners receive a recognition plaque, $100 savings bond and a gift certificate donated by Maine Potato Growers. Teachers of the first-place winners receive an environment book. Second-place winners receive a plaque and $75 savings bonds. Third-place winners receive a plaque and $50 savings bonds. All winners receive an Earth Day T-shirt, and all participants receive Earth Day certificates of achievement. Look for the posters and essays at the Aroostook Centre Mall.
This year’s poster winners are: first place, Camryn Ala, grade 2, Fort Fairfield Elementary School; second place, Amalla Peterson, grade 2, New Sweden Elementary School; and third place, Avery Knowles, grade 2, Hilltop School, Caribou. Posters drawn by Nykolas Monroe, grade 1, Pine Street School, Presque Isle; and Avery Levesque, grade K, Madawaska Elementary School, were selected for honorable mention.
Winning essays for grade 3-5 are: first place, Briana Gilson, grade 5, Zippel Elementary School, Presque Isle; second place, Nicholas Simpson, grade 5, Van Buren Elementary School; and third place, Caroline Wood, grade 5, Houlton Southside School. Honorable mention was awarded to: Alora Walker, grade 4, of Katahdin Elementary School; and Blake Thivierge, grade 5, of Van Buren District Elementary School.
Grade 6-8 winners are: first place, Zachary Epstein, grade 7, Madawaska Middle High School; second place, Kaleb Cormier, grade 8, Van Buren District Elementary School; and third place, Jaida Beaulieu, grade 6, Presque Isle Middle School. Honorable mention was awarded to: McCall Turner, grade 7, of Washburn District Elementary School; Craig Gendreau, grade 8, Madawaska Middle High School; and Elizabeth Theriault, grade 8, of Madawaska Middle High School.
Winners in the grade 9-10 division are: first place, Shelby Cummings, grade 10, Southern Aroostook Community School, Dyer Brook; second place, Renee Fortin, grade 10, Van Buren District Secondary School; and third place, Sydney Tate, grade 10, Presque Isle High School. Honorable mention was awarded to: Erikka Marley, grade 10, Presque Isle High School; and Hannah Dionne, grade 10, Van Buren District Secondary School.
Winners of the grade 11-12 division are: first place, Abby Carrier, grade 11, Presque Isle High School; second Place, Sky LaJoie, grade 11, Van Buren District Secondary School; and third place was awarded to Freeman Short, grade 11, Presque Isle High School. Honorable mention was awarded to Connor Savage, grade 11, of Presque Isle High School.
April 22 marked the 42nd anniversary of the original Earth Day. The international focus on Earth Day reflects the global scope of all major environmental issues, including global warming, deforestation, ozone depletion, the rain forest, renewable energy resources, energy conservation and hazardous, toxic wastes.
Roxanne Smith, Lucas Ireland, Gina LeBlanc-Eggert and Nancy Chandler from Maine Public Service Company judged the Earth Day entries.
Pleased with the huge number of participants in the contest, MPS Supervisor of Conservation and Education Services Nancy Chandler said, “This year we received more than 400 original ideas from writers and artists.”
“Creative ways of celebrating Earth Day’s 42nd anniversary and keeping Aroostook County pristine ranged from picking up trash left by others, using lower-emission tractors on the farm and turning off unnecessary electronics when not in use,” said Chandler.
According to Chandler, one fifth-grade writer stated, “I love the environment and try to keep it clean by throwing out all the trash I find in the woods. It is important to me because I want to protect the animals that live and make their home there.” And an eighth-grade student wrote, “I say recycle and indeed go green. Go out of your way to pick up the random piece of paper and old can. Get up and make plans with friends and neighbors to help your community in one way or another. The little things add up. One bottle picked up from the side of the road is one less that goes into a landfill and ruins the world.”
“There are many ways we can celebrate Earth Day. Maine Public Service is proud to celebrate Earth Day through the many talented writers and artist in its service territory. Remember you can make a difference during this 42nd anniversary of Earth Day,” said Chandler, noting, “One student reminds us that Aroostook County is a very beautiful place, and that beauty needs to be retained. It is very important to preserve its natural resources so that the next generation and the one after that can have the same opportunities that we did.”
“Plant a tree, fix a leaky faucet, use both sides of the paper, carpool, use fluorescent bulbs and turn things off when you are done using them — were just some of the many suggestions from the Earth Day essayist,” said Chandler.
