VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The winning artwork from the 2017-2018 North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest will be on display April 16 through May 3 at the Straus Mall in Valley City. Many local area youth participated in the contest this year, and Valley City students represented well. Winners have the opportunity to see their artwork on display all year long at various locations including National Wildlife Refuge events, the Heritage Center in Bismarck, Scheels All Sports, and numerous other venues around the state.
The Jr Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, is a dynamic educational program designed to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. Using scientific and wildlife observation principles, the program helps students communicate visually what they have learned by creating an entry for the Junior Duck Stamp Program art contest. This non-traditional pairing of subjects brings new interest to both science and the arts. The Federal Junior Duck Stamp was modeled after the Federal Duck Stamp and was created in 1989 to provide awards and incentive to students learning about wetland habitat and waterfowl.
The Junior Duck Stamp competition begins each year when students submit their artwork to state contests. At the state level, students are judged in four groups according to grade level: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Three first, three second, and three third place entries, along with 16 honorable mentions, are selected for each group. Contest judges select a “Best of Show” from the twelve first place winners. Each state or territory “Best of Show” is then submitted to the Federal Duck Stamp Office and entered into the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest. This year, North Dakota is excited to host the National Junior Duck Stamp judging for the first time on April 20th at the Heritage Center in Bismarck.
Students are also encouraged to include a conservation message on their entry forms along with their artwork. This year’s conservation message winner is Kesi McConnaughey of Rogers, ND. Kesi wrote “Conserve today to protect tomorrow.” Her conservation message will go on to compete at the national level.
An awards ceremony for the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Program will be held for all first, second, and third place winners and their families, at the North Dakota Heritage Center and Museum in Bismarck, on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Winning students will be recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Prairie Pothole Partners, Audubon Refuge Partners, Inc., Friends of Sullys Hill and wildlife clubs from throughout North Dakota.
Participants are very proud of their artwork. Please take a moment while you are supporting your local businesses in Valley City and check out their artistic talents! For a complete schedule and locations of the ND Junior Duck Stamp Artwork Exhibit, please visit the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/NDJuniorDuckStamp/
Complete listing of contest winners:
First, second and third place winners in each of the four age groups:
1st Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Levi Bro – Bismarck
Abigail Bro – Bismarck
Gabriel Coleman – Baldwin
1st Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Angela Chen – Devils Lake
Grace Harkness – Devils Lake
Natasha Anderson – Fairmount
1st Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Daniel Schumacher – Linton (BEST OF SHOW)
McKenzie Balzer – Bismarck (RUNNER-UP BEST OF SHOW)
Bradyn Modine – Alexander
1st Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Sydney Nelson – Valley City
Fischer Ackerson – Sherwood
Kayla Triebold – Oriska
2nd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Owen Tichy – Tower City
Olivia Beaudoin – Glasston
Beau Haagenson – Harlow
2nd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Everett Fedje – Hoople
Ethan Bro – Bismarck
Katie Volk – Pembina
2nd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Tianna Dwyer – Alexander
Jared Eggermont – Valley City
Juli White – Alexander
2nd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Hannah Aberle – Valley City
Alliya Anderson– Valley City
Chelsey Morlock – Killdeer
3rd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Brayden Herman – Brinsmade
Ingrid Myrdal – Edinburg
Gianna Hall – Edinburg
3rd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Nevaeh Junturieh – West Hope
Karley Gange-Gerhardt – Mandan
austen Olson – Devils Lake
3rd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Tucker Shonert – Litchville
Braylee Azure – Devils Lake
Grace Hanson – Valley City
3rd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Tanner Thomsen – Valley City
Elizabeth Borg – Valley City
Angela Larson – Valley City
Honorable Mention winners in each of the four age groups:
Group 1 (K-Grade 3)
Andrew Sailer – Pembina
Tucker Alberts – Tioga
Layla Armstead – Alexander
Dylon Battles – Mohall
Bella Biby – Leeds
Madison Dockter – Jamestown
Scarlett Dreger – Hoople
Kiah Erickson – Bowbells
Vivian Lundeen – Alexander
Addison Lyons – Pembina
Cody Mace, Jr. – Lansford
Eden McConnell – St. Thomas
Genna Nelsen – Leeds
Carter Schatz – Bismarck
Livia Sterner – Mountain
Marissa Symington – Pembina Group 3 (Grades 7-9)
Ariana Abrahamson – Valley City
Luke Crosby – Bowbells
Emily Deplazes – Devils Lake
Gage Gould – Valley City
Drew LeBrun – Alexander
Onalee Shogren – Grand Forks
Elizabeth Moldenhauer – Kenmare
Avery Murray – Valley City
Presley Powell- Alexander
Colbie Rosco – Alexander
Ashton Sadoski – Valley City
Olivia Slyter – Valley City
Corynna Turnquist – Alexander
Cheyenne Woodward – Valley City
Aurora Ziniel – Valley City
Group 2 (Grades 4-6)
Charles Bisbee – York
Ellyanna Bye –Devils Lake
Starrla Carson -Flaxton
Patrice Falcon –Devils Lake
Amiri Francis- Devils Lake
Cabryn Fritel –Devils Lake
Emily Green – Devils Lake
Kristen Huhta – Adams
Sienna Lunak – Devils Lake
Mathea Nelson – Doyon
Skyler Olivas – Minot
Ariana Onchuck – Wahpeton
Morgan Prince – Devil Lake
Emma Sabo – Leeds
Traycer Tollefson – Devils Lake
Kolin Warner – Pembina
Group 4 (Grades 10-12)
John Cooms – Valley City
Hannah Dockter – Valley City
Kallie Fretheim – Valley City
Elizabeth Gazeley – Valley City
Samantha Gregoryk – Valley City
Ethan Jenner – Valley City
Haley Jensen – Valley City
Kesi McConnaughey – Valley City
Katy Meester – Valley City
Emerson Meidinger – Valley City
Scarlett Parlier – Garrison
Ashton Schonert – Litchville
Benjamin Schuldheisz – Valley City
Monisha Terry – Valley City
Noelle Thompson – Valley City
Nita Warcken-Petersen – Valley City
Art teacher Kelly Callahan added this information about the area students who did so well in the art contest.
Congratulations VCHS Art Students for the 2018 ND Jr. Duck Stamp Competition Award Winners:
*State Champion – Conservation Message Award Winner (1 out of 1184 entries)
Kesi McConnaughey
Senior High Division
1st place winners
Sydney Nelson
Kayla Triebold
2nd place winners
Hannah Aberle
Ally Anderson
3rd place winners
Tanner Thomsen
Libby Borg
Angela Larson
Honorable Mentions:
John Coombs
Hannah Dockter
Kallie Fretheim
Elizabeth Gaizley
Sammantha Gregoryk
Ethan Jenner
Hailey Jensen
Kesi McConnaughey
Katy Meester
Emerson Meidinger
Ashton Schonert
Benjamin Schuldheisz
Monisha Terry
Noelle Thompson
Nita Warcken-Peterson
Jr. High Division
2nd place winners
Jared Eggermont
3rd place winners
Tucker Shonert
Grace Hanson
Honorable Mentions:
Ariana Abrahamson
Gage Gould
Avery Murray
Ashton Sadoski
Olivia Slyter
Cheyenne Woodward
Aurora Ziniel
