MONTGOMERY-Recently, students from Alabama were nationally recognized for their artistic ability at illustrating an officially designated state-fish. First place winners in the annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest, including four from Alabama, were celebrated during the organization’s annual awards ceremony and expo held in Hot Springs, Ark., on August 21-22.
Art students from across the country attended the event after placing first in their home states. This year, illustrations of cutthroat trout, longear sunfish and largemouth bass landed the four Alabama students in the winner’s circle.
The Alabama winners are:
Grades K-3: Lily Tao, Barbara Keel Art School, Auburn, Ala., Cutthroat trout
Grades 4-6: Anna Buckingham, Barbara Keel Art School, Auburn, Ala., Largemouth bass
Grades 7-9: Jordanne Clabo, no school listed, Daphne, Ala., Longear sunfish
Grades 10-12: Emmalyn Watson, Saraland High School, Saraland, Ala., Largemouth bass
The Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest encourages young artists to create an illustration of their state fish and a written composition about its behavior, habitat, or efforts to conserve it. Entries are categorized by grade level: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. In Alabama, the Conservation Department’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has partnered with Wildlife Forever to promote the contest.
“The State-Fish Art Contest uses art as a medium for teaching conservation education,”
Doug Darr, WFF Aquatic Education Coordinator
said Doug Darr, WFF Aquatic Education Coordinator. “Teachers can request information and a lesson plan specific to aquatic natural resources that includes a species identification section profiling each state fish, a glossary, a suggested list of quiz questions and student worksheets by visiting Wildlife Forever’s website.”
Wildlife Forever is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to preserving America’s wildlife heritage, with more than 70,000 members nationwide. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states.
To view this year’s winning artwork, visit www.wildlifeforever.org. For more information about the State-Fish Art Contest in Alabama, contact Doug Darr at 334-242-3471, or by email: doug.darr@dcnr.alabama.gov.
MEDIA RELEASE/OUTDOOR ALABAMA AQUATIC ESUCATION
