2009 Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Student Art Competition Winners Chosen
Min Lee from Johns Creek, Georgia, won the 2009 Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Contest for her rendition of two wood ducks in color pencil. Credit: USFWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2009
Contacts:
Resee Collins, 404/679-7051
Tom MacKenzie, 404/679-7291
A 14-year-old artist from Johns Creek, Georgia, Min Lee, has been announced as the winner of the 2009 statewide Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest held Tuesday, March 31, in Atlanta, Georgia. Five judges unanimously selected Lee’s colored pencil rendition of a wood duck pair out of 511 entries as the Georgia Best of Show.
Min Lee will receive a $250 scholarship from Georgia Power Corporation and over $50 worth of art supplies and waterfowl field guides. As Georgia’s Best of Show, Lee’s artwork has also been sent for the federal competition scheduled on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, at the National Postal Museum, Washington, D.C. Images from all states and territories can be seen on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps.
This year, Junior Duck Stamp entries were submitted from 50 public and private schools, home schools, art studios, and after-school programs throughout the state. Lee’s winning entry was submitted through teacher Mikki Kim of Northview High School in Johns Creek, Georgia.
A panel of distinguished judges selected for their expertise in artistic design, wildlife art, and waterfowl biology decided the winners of this year’s Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. A total of 100 winners were selected, featuring twenty-five winners in each of four different age groups: Kindergarten to third grade, fourth to sixth grade, seventh to ninth grade and tenth to twelfth grade, as well as the state’s Best of Show.
This year’s esteemed judges featured: Greg Balkcom, expert waterfowl biologist with Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Charles Seabrook, Atlanta Journal Constitution, prize-winning science and environment reporter; Bob Brinkman, Environmental Analyst Senior, Georgia Power Company, long-time sponsors of the Georgia Junior Duck program; Shari Zellers, multi-award winning Atlanta professional photographer; and Marilyn Brower, Acting Deputy Chief/Refuges, Advanced Leadership Development Program, Washington DC.
For a complete list of the 100 contest winners, please visit http://www.fws.gov/southeast/birds/jrduck_stamp.htm or contact Resee Collins in the Division of Migratory Birds, (404) 679-7051 or Resee_Collins@fws.gov.
Prizes and ribbons are also being given for the best student conservation message that expresses the spirit of what they learned while researching and planning for their Duck Stamp Contest artwork entry. This years’ conservation message winner is 17-year-old David Jones, from Agape Art Academy in Hixson, Georgia, who submitted: “The world of tomorrow depends on the generation of today.” David’s artwork of an Emperor Goose also received Second Place in Group 4. Judges also voted an Honorable Mention Conservation Message winner to “Save a Duck --- Clean Up Your Yuck!” submitted by 8-year-old Lydia Akin in Conyers.
Junior Duck Stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex Corporation consignees for $5 per stamp. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps support conservation education, and provide awards and scholarships for students, teachers, and schools that participate in the program.
The Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is open to all youth in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. All participants receive a certificate of appreciation. This is the 15th year of the student art competition, which is modeled after the Federal Duck Stamp Program, celebrating its 75th anniversary this fall at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. To learn more about the Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest and to see digital images of the 2009 winning artwork (posted in May), visit the Service web site at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/birds/jrduck_stamp.htm
For further information about the Junior Duck Stamp contest or the Fish and Wildlife Service, please contact Resee Collins at (404) 679-7051, or e-mail Resee_Collins@fws.gov.
