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Children at Nine Maine Schools Received Environmental Awards

Release Date: 06/06/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: Sheryl Rosner, EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1865, rosner.sheryl@epa.gov

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2005; Release # sr050604

BOSTON – More than 25 children from nine Maine elementary schools received US EPA Paul G. Keough Earth Artist awards at a celebration held on Friday, June 3, at the Best Western Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta.

Students from around New England participated in the 32nd annual Earth Artist contest to demonstrate their knowledge of and commitment to a clean environment.

"These students in Maine and throughout New England understand what it takes to protect our environment, and have done artwork that encourages all of us to help keep our air, land and water cleaner,” said EPA New England's regional administrator Robert W. Varney. “At our ceremony, we recognize students in Maine who may well be tomorrow’s environmental leaders.”

Maine winners of the Earth Artist contest were recognized at the ceremony where their art and poetry were displayed. Students received certificates for their accomplishments.

The Earth Artists program requires that teachers use class time to talk about environmental issues. The students are encouraged to submit either a poem or poster to EPA New England that demonstrates their knowledge. Children from kindergarten through sixth grade are eligible to participate. All submissions are judged by a panel of EPA staff.

Students from the following Maine schools were recognized at the ceremony:

• Walton School, Auburn
• St. Thomas School, Sanford
• Central Middle School, Corinth
• Emerson School, Bar Harbor
• The School at Sweetser, Saco
• Mary Snow School, Bangor
• Madawaska Elementary School, Madawaska
• New Hill School, Portland
• School Around Us, Arundel