Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) announced on April 24 the winners of his first annual Earth Day Poster Challenge for students in grades 1 through 12 who attend a school located in the 50th Assembly District, the legislator’s office announced in a statement.
A grand prize was awarded for the best overall poster and one first place selection each from the elementary, junior high, and high school level. The grand prize award went to Capella Fox, a first-grader from Wilshire Private School in Los Angeles.
The other three winners included Juliauna Mkrtchyan, a fifth-grader and Ani Sarafian, a ninth-grader, who attend TCA Archag Dickranian Armenian Art School in Los Angeles and who won the elementary and high school categories, respectively, and an eight-grader from St. Monica’s Catholic School in Santa Monica who won the junior high school category.
“I was very impressed with both the level of interest in this contest and the creativity of the artwork that was submitted. All of the students who entered the contest should be applauded,” Bloom stated. “These youth are the future leaders of our communities. Their engagement and interest in our environment helps teach their peers how to be better stewards of our environment and encourages adults to do the same.”
The Earth Day Poster Challenge was held to honor Earth Day 2014 and to help encourage schools and students of all ages to learn about Earth Day and to help promote this year’s Earth Day theme, Green Cities.
The contest, which was announced to all schools throughout the 50th Assembly District back in January, received over 100 entries. The poster size was limited to 8.5 by 11 inches and must have been submitted on recycled paper. Students were allowed to utilize any form of media such as photos, drawings, paintings, or collages for their posters.
Founded in 1970 by former United States Senator Garylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 around the world. The purpose of Earth Day is to increase awareness and support for environmental programs and initiatives at the local, national, and global level and to also help educate people on how to be better stewards of their environment.
The winning posters will be on display in Bloom’s District.
