Ninety 6th-grade students in Mrs. Lee’s science/social studies class participated in New York State’s Conserve and Protect Our Water Poster Contest, a first for Minisink Valley Middle School.
Over 800 students from 37 schools across the state submitted artwork. Mrs. Lee’s student, Tyler Boyce, was one of 14 winners, statewide.
"I am honored because I won this out of all of the students in New York State, and I was able to show that we have to save water worldwide," Tyler said.
Winners were voted at the 89th annual meeting of the New York Water Environment Association, one of the sponsoring organizations. Tyler’s poster will be featured in a 2018 calendar to be distributed to state agencies.
"This award proves that hard work and determination can truly pay off,” Mrs. Lee said. “Our school was also commended for helping students understand the importance of protecting and conserving our water resources, and for participating in this awareness-raising effort.”
In the context of resource conservation, Mrs. Lee’s students also learned about the importance of recycling, reusing and reducing. The poster contest gave students an opportunity to think creatively about these themes through their artwork and the development of slogans.
"This project allowed us to understand that there is no life without water, and how we can help conserve it," Ivy Ha said. Ivy hopes that the posters and the calendar will also help others care about our most precious resource.
Tyler will receive a copy of the calendar, a commemorative plaque and water bottle, and an invitation to a regional NYWEA conference. All participating students will receive certificates of recognition from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Congratulations to Tyler Boyce, Mrs. Lee, and her sixth graders!