Lamorinda Students Win in Ecological Art, Photography and Poetry Contests
Submitted By Brian Larson
Lamorinda Students Win in Ecological Art, Photography and Poetry Contests
Four Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School students won top prizes at the recent "Visuals and Voices Contest," sponsored by Berkeley-based EarthTeam Environmental Network, which handed out awards for ecologically-themed art, photography and poetry to creative middle and high school students from across the Bay Area.
EarthTeam provides middle and high school teachers, students, and youth leaders throughout the East Bay with curriculum-connected, community-service projects that inspire teens to become stewards of the environment.
The local students took prizes in various categories. Sixth grader Zach Watson was awarded the $100 global warming theme grand prize for his water-color depiction of the earth cooking in a hot frying pan - aptly titled "The Kitchen of the Universe;" seventh grader Diana Kossakowski won the first place $50 prize in the middle school art category for her painting of a floating lotus flower titled "The Last Flower Depends on You;" seventh grader Thibaut Hardin won $25 for second place in the middle school art category for his 3-D piece titled "Today's World;" and seventh grader Caitlin Burnite received the $50 first place prize in the middle school photography category for her photo titled "The Light Comes Through."
Miramonte High School tenth grader Erin Cherry received an honorable mention for her photo titled "Winter Fairytale."
Middle and high school students submitted their own personal creations with an ecological theme. Along with an emphasis on judging entries that address an environmental topic, theme or issue, the submissions were also judged on artistic merit.
This year, EarthTeam added a new category to the Contest - the Green Idol - with Campolindo High School eleventh grader David Kant taking home the photography "Green Idol" prize for his photo titled "Sunset."
The talent show and award ceremony was part of EarthTeam's annual school year-end celebration of environmental, community service, and educational accomplishments, which also included teachers and students who participated in other EarthTeam projects, such as the Global Warming Campaign. The event was held at Ex'pression College of Digital Art in Emeryville and included a warm welcome from California State Senator Mark DeSaulnier. Student entries were displayed on EarthTeam's "The Green News" Web site at http://thegreennews.net prior to the contest so viewers could vote for their favorite poetry, interview, article, photograph, and art submissions. To learn more information about EarthTeam and how to volunteer or participate, call (510) 704-4030 or visit www.earthteam.net.
"Kitchen of the Universe" Zach Watson
"The Light Comes Through" Caitlin Burnite
"The Last Flower Depends on You" Diana Kossakowski
Four Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School students won top prizes at the recent "Visuals and Voices Contest," sponsored by Berkeley-based EarthTeam Environmental Network, which handed out awards for ecologically-themed art, photography and poetry to creative middle and high school students from across the Bay Area.
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA