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Rachel Carson Contest Winners 2007

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Aging Initiative, Generations United, and the Rachel Carson Institute, Inc. are pleased to announce the winners of this year's Rachel Carson "A Sense of Wonder" Intergenerational Essay, Photography, and Poetry Contest.

The contest was designed to increase environmental stewardship and public awareness of environmental issues. This year, the theme is commemorating the 100th anniversary of environmentalist Rachel Carson's life. The contest's intergenerational approach reflects Carson's efforts through her writings to have adults share with children a sense of wonder about nature and help them discover its joys. All teams included both a person under age 18 and a person 50 years of age or older.

There were over 150 entries and more than 1,000 votes. Participants included intergenerational teams of families, neighbors, friends, and teachers and classes. Finalists in each category were selected by an intergenerational team of judges. Winners were then selected by public voting on the Aging Initiative website.

First place in the Essay contest went to Hunter, 11, of Nebraska and Dr. Gould for their piece, "My Little Pal, the Blue Fir Tree."

In Photography, Melissa, 16, of New York, and her father, Scott, placed first in the Photography Portfolio category, with the winning series of photos. First place in the Photography by a Child category went to Megan, 8, of Wisconsin and her grandfather, James, while Matthew, age 2, of Florida, and his grandmother, Judith, took first place in the Adult category.

In the 8 and under Poetry contest, the winners were Jared Thomas, 5, of Virginia, and his great-aunt, Victoria, with their poem, "Nature Walk." Anna, 14, of North Carolina, and grandmother, Patty, took first place in the 9 and older category with "The Harmony of Nature."

Essay

1st Place: Hunter, age 11, Nebraska, with Principal, Nebraska
"My Little Pal, the Blue Fir Tree"

2nd Place: Diana, age 9, Virginia with mother, Leslie, Virginia
"The Sea is Jumping"

3rd Place: Ben, age 12, Virginia with grandmother, Marilyn, Virginia
"I Awaken"

Honorable Mention

Kendra, age 9, Virginia with grandmother, Susan, Maryland
"Our Favorite Place"

Kristen, age 13, Kansas with grandmother, Marguerite, Wisconsin
"The Fragile beauty"

 

Photography Portfolio

Photography Portfolio
1st Place: Melissa, age 16, New York with father, Scott, New York

 

Photography by a Child
1st Place: Megan, age 8, Wisconsin with grandfather, James, Wisconsin

2nd Place: Darnell, age 10, Maryland with friend, Sandra, Maryland

3rd Place: Carson, age 16, North Carolina with his aunt, North Carolina

Honorable Mention
Anthony, age 16, North Carolina with teacher, Diana, North Carolina

 

Photography by an Adult

1st Place: Matthew, age 2, Florida with grandmother, Judith, Florida

2nd Place: Sammi, age 5, California with aunt, Catherine, Washington

3rd Place: Alison, age 8, Virginia with grandmother, Karen, Massachusetts

Honorable Mention
James, age 1, Indiana with grandparents, Stephen & Susan, Indiana

Jilene, age 11, Virginia with mother, Laurel, Virginia

 

Poetry

Poetry Age 8 & Under

1st Place: Jared Thomas, age 5, Virginia with great aunt, Victoria, Virginia
"Nature Walk"

2nd Place: Sanford, age 8, Wisconsin with teacher, Christine, Wisconsin
"Wood Violets"

3rd Place: Talia, age 8, New York with librarian, Kathy, New York
"Beautiful Sunset"

Honorable Mention
Elena, age 8, Kansas with grandmother, Skyler, Kansas
"Seasons"

Megan, age 8, New York with librarian, Kathy, New York
"The Sky"

Poetry Age 9 & Older

1st Place: Anna, age 14, North Carolina with grandmother, Patty, North Carolina
"The Harmony of Nature"

2nd Place: Woody, age 17, Pennsylvania with mother, Vivienne, Pennsylvania
"The Wonder of Bees"

3rd Place: Karla, age 11, Missouri with grandfather, Flavious, Missouri
"Making it Green"

Honorable Mention
Breanna, age 11, Tara, age 14, & Hope, age 13, Kentucky with grandmother, Sarah, Kentucky
"What is brown?"

Madalena, 15, Virginia with mother, Kathi, Virginia
"We wonder"

To see the winning entries on the Voting Results.

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