Illinois EPA Celebrates Young Environmentalists in 32nd Annual Poster, Poetry and Prose Contest

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Acting Director John Kim today honored a group of creative fifth and sixth grade students selected for their artistic and writing skills used to express environmental awareness, as part of the Agency's 32nd Annual Poster, Poetry and Prose Contest. The students selected from throughout Illinois were recognized at a reception in the Old State Capitol building in downtown Springfield.

Each year, fifth and sixth grade students in Illinois take part in the Poster, Poetry and Prose contest as part of the Agency's Environmental Education initiative. Through the program, participating schools study environmental concepts with an emphasis on the current year's environmental theme. Many teachers round out the classroom program by having the students create posters or poetry/prose works to illustrate what they have learned and submit these to the Agency. Each participating school is eligible to select four works in each category to submit for competitive judging. This year's theme, Green Transportation - Keeping the Air Clean for a Healthy Future! focused on the importance of choosing green transportation and how it relates to air quality.

"As we have just celebrated Earth Day, I am encouraged by the works of these students and their knowledge of the environment," said Acting Director Kim.  "We are excited to see our Environmental Pathways program explored by so many schools and look forward to classrooms utilizing our newly released STEM curriculum in years to come."

Poetry/Prose Top Award Winners

Ben Carlson
Spencer Crossing School, New Lenox

Penelope Mahon
St. Monica Academy, Chicago

Sunehri Patel
Washington Elementary School, Glenview

Nate Smith
Spencer Crossing School, New Lenox

Izabella Sobieraj
Washington Elementary School, Glenview

Paul Wawczak
St. Giles Catholic School, Oak Park

Posters Top Award Winners

Lizbeth Balerio
Washington Elementary School, Glenview

Krishna Gandhi
Washington Elementary School, Glenview

Paige Nacpil
St. Monica Academy, Chicago

Blake Schaper
Fortitude School, Alton

Hannah Shoemaker
Cumberland Middle School, Toledo

Stella Waters
Willows Academy, Des Plaines

A panel of representatives from the Illinois EPA judged all entries and selected the finalists, whose entries were then judged by an outside panel of authorities, to determine the top 12 winners.

The students, their families, and teachers were invited to today's awards ceremony and reception, where the top 12 and honorable mention winners received environmental reference books for their school libraries. The winners, along with all finalists, also received certificates and ribbons for their creative efforts. In addition to the awards, tours of the Old State Capitol were given to winners and guests before and after the awards ceremony.

A complete list of winners by school is attached, and is available by category on the Illinois EPA website at: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/education/contest/Pages/default.aspx.

The winning entries will be on exhibit at Illinois EPA's headquarters in Springfield through May 24, and the top 12 entries are also featured on the Illinois EPA's website.

Information about the annual event can be obtained by contacting Kristi Morris, Environmental Education Coordinator for the Illinois EPA at 1021 North Grand Avenue East, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL, 62794-9276, or Kristi.Morris@Illinois.gov.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
2019 Poster, Poetry and Prose Winners (by School)

Arthur Grade School, Arthur
Sara Herschberger, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Mackenzie Condill, Special Recognition-Posters
Marnita Herschberger, Special Recognition-Posters
Denise Hostetler, Special Recognition-Posters

Culver School, Niles
Samer Hikmat, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Lena Schultz, Special Recognition-Posters

Cumberland Middle School, Toledo
Hannah Shoemaker, Top Award Winner-Posters
Makenzi Carlen, Honorable Mention-Posters
Karen Willenborg, Honorable Mention-Posters
Vada Robinson, Special Recognition-Posters

Fearn Elementary, North Aurora
Caroline Escobedo, Honorable Mention-Posters
Madeline Miller, Honorable Mention-Posters

Fortitude School, Alton
Blake Schaper, Top Award Winner-Posters
Blake Schaper, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose

Hellenic American Academy, Deerfield
Emanuel E. Gavrilos Jr., Honorable Mention-Poetry/Prose
Kristina Panagiotaros, Honorable Mention-Poetry/Prose
Jenna Kokkalias, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Evi Maria Chronopoulos, Special Recognition-Posters
Zenya Kontos, Special Recognition-Posters
Anthony Polonski, Special Recognition-Posters

Jefferson Elementary, Charleston
Diamin Decker, Honorable Mention-Posters
Meredith McGrath, Honorable Mention-Poetry/Prose
Reagan Farkas, Special Recognition-Posters
McKinley Ueleke, Special Recognition-Posters
Adam Burns, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Brody Byington, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Natalie Howell, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose

Kingswood Academy, Darien
Annina Garro, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Nathan Kruchko, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Catherine Fairbank, Special Recognition-Posters
Faustina Zabinski, Special Recognition-Posters

Lincoln Elementary, Elmhurst
Evelyn Connolly, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose

Mary Morgan Elementary, Byron
Madison Lane, Honorable Mention-Posters
Layni Marchini, Special Recognition-Posters

Meridian Jr. High School, Stillman Valley
Jaxon Barrett, Special Recognition-Posters

Olson Park Elementary, Machesney Park
Hailey Bilodeau, Honorable Mention-Posters
Rilynn Grover, Special Recognition-Posters
Kamryn Perry, Special Recognition-Posters
Bella Ritzert, Special Recognition-Posters

Our Savior's Lutheran School, Springfield
Emma Jacobs, Special Recognition-Posters

Prince of Peace Catholic School, Lake Villa
Sofia Hedsund, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Eliana Mendez, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Krysteanna Feliciano, Special Recognition-Posters

Ransom Grade School, Ransom
Nicholas Loveland, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Madison Bedeker, Special Recognition-Posters

Spencer Crossing, New Lenox
Ben Carlson, Top Award Winner-Poetry/Prose
Nate Smith, Top Award Winner-Poetry/Prose
Josie LeJeune, Honorable Mention-Poetry/Prose
Abby Janik, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Claire Leonard, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Molly Olson, Special Recognition-Posters

St. Dominic School, Quincy
Sierra Bergman, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Ellie Price, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose

St. Giles Catholic School, Oak Park
Paul Wawczak, Top Award Winner-Poetry/Prose
Ellie Biemer, Honorable Mention-Poetry/Prose
Sydney Ahler, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Christopher M. Holliday, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Giavanna Delatorre, Special Recognition-Posters
Lucille Lundberg, Special Recognition-Posters
Claudia Phan, Special Recognition-Posters

St. Monica Academy, Chicago
Penelope Mahon, Top Award Winner-Poetry/Prose
Paige Nacpil, Top Award Winner-Posters
Maeve Brunell, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Sophia Lobo, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Maria Aiello, Special Recognition-Posters
James Bober, Special Recognition-Posters

Washington Elementary School, Glenview
Sunehri Patel, Top Award Winner-Poetry/Prose
Izabella Sobieraj, Top Award Winner-Poetry/Prose
Lizbeth Balerio, Top Award Winner-Posters
Krishna Gandhi, Top Award Winner-Posters
Zoe Kakares, Honorable Mention-Posters
Esho Shamaon, Honorable Mention-Poetry/Prose
Shaan Kannampallil, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Jahnavi Patel, Special Recognition-Posters

Willows Academy, Des Plaines
Stella Waters, Top Award Winner-Posters
Amie Devine, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Annie Devine, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Julia Lechner, Special Recognition-Poetry/Prose
Sophia Gray, Special Recognition-Posters
Hannah Kuhlman, Special Recognition-Posters