On May 24, The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey celebrated and recognized the winners of the 2019 Species on the Edge Art and Essay Contest, a statewide educational contest open to all fifth-graders. The 17th annual contest encourages students to become wildlife biologists through their research and artwork on the endangered and threatened wildlife species in New Jersey.
Winners from The Sun Newspapers coverage area include: Burlington County first place,
Lukas Seeber, Olson Middle School; Camden County first place, Francesca Shih, Kresson
Elementary School; Gloucester County first place, Taryn Elise D’Auria, Williamstown
Middle School; and Gloucester County second place, Carly Hagmaier, J. Mason Tomlin
Elementary School.
“These talented children poured their hearts into the Species on the Edge contest, creating vibrant artwork and passionate essays about these rare wildlife species,” said David Wheeler, Conserve Wildlife Foundation Executive Director. “We are inspired to help
connect the next generation of New Jersey conservation leaders with the natural world
around them. Their art and essays illustrate the wonders of nature – and reveal many of the challenges we must overcome to help vulnerable wildlife survive in our densely populated state.”
Students were asked to draw a picture of one of New Jersey’s more than 80 endangered
and threatened wildlife species and compose an essay about how the animal became
endangered and what can be done to help protect it. The Species on the Edge Art and Essay Contest encourages students to learn about local environmental issues, express their concerns for the world around them, think creatively about ways to improve it, and to consider how their actions impact the natural world.
This year’s ingenious group of winners was honored at an awards ceremony which was
hosted at the New Jersey Education Association in Trenton. The contest was sponsored by
PSEG Foundation, NJEA, GAF, Atlantic City Electric, Church and Dwight, Wakefern Corp./
ShopRite and The Zoological Society of New Jersey.
Since 2003, more than 30,000 children from across New Jersey have entered the Species on the Edge Art and Essay Contest.
For more information, visit www.ConserveWildlifeNJ.org/Education/Edge/.
