PRESS RELEASE
from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

For more information,contact
Carla Felix (402) 471-4223,
Amanda Woita (402) 471-4243,
Nathanael Urie (402) 471-4245, or
For Immediate Release
August 11, 2010

Nebraska Students’ Environmental Artwork to be


Featured in 2011 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It” Calendar

The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2011 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” environmental calendar. The statewide contest is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) and focuses on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

The students whose submissions were selected for the 2011 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Tuesday, August 10, where they were honored by Gov. Dave Heineman and NDEQ Director Mike Linder. Each month, the calendar will feature one of the 12 winning environmental posters. A 13th winner’s artwork will provide the cover for the calendar.

The entry which will be featured on the cover was submitted by:
Ellie Spanel, a twelfth grade student from Norfolk Senior High School, Norfolk.

The other 12 winners who are featured in the calendar are:
Gavin Nelson, a kindergarten student from Fischer’s 24 School, Schuyler.
Kanemah Rambi, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.
Dawson Poessnecker, a fifth grade student from North Bend Elementary, North Bend.
Kelly Kroeger, a second grade student from Swanson Elementary, Omaha.
Courtney Laubner, a seventh grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
Christian Anaya, a first grade student from Roosevelt Elementary, Scottsbluff.
Shianne Hoatson, a sixth grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
Ariyah Parker, a third grade student from Umonhon Nation Public School, Macy.
Janet Kuskie, a tenth grade student from Perkins County School, Grant.
Drake Repschlaeger, a first grade student from West Point Elementary, West Point.
Kaila Avent, a fourth grade student from Raymond Watson Elementary, Hastings.
Kevin Estrada, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary School, Grand Island.


This is the fifth year that NDEQ has sponsored the contest, and Linder said he continues to be impressed with the number and quality of submissions from across the state.

“The number of entries we receive from across the state has increased each year,” Linder said. “This year, we received more than 3,000 entries, so it was especially difficult for us to choose 13 winners. These winning entries not only demonstrate the winners’ artistic talent, but they also convey important messages about the need to protect our environment.”

Copies of the calendar are available by contacting NDEQ at P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, or by sending an e-mail request to NDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov .

Below are photos of the individual contest winners, taken at the Aug. 10 ceremony. In each photo, Governor Dave Heineman is at left, and
NDEQ Director Mike Linder is at right. (Right click on jpg icon and select "Open in New Window.")


Student's Name and School
photo
Ellie Spanel, a twelfth grade student from Norfolk Senior High School, Norfolk.
(See attached file: Spanel.jpg)
Gavin Nelson, a kindergarten student from Fischer’s 24 School, Schuyler.
(See attached file: Nelson.jpg)
Kanemah Rambi, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.
(See attached file: Rambi.jpg)
Dawson Poessnecker, a fifth grade student from North Bend Elementary, North Bend.
(See attached file: Poessnecker.jpg)
Kelly Kroeger, a second grade student from Swanson Elementary, Omaha.
(See attached file: Kroeger.jpg)
Courtney Laubner, a seventh grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
(See attached file: Laubner.jpg)
Christian Anaya, a first grade student from Roosevelt Elementary, Scottsbluff.
(See attached file: Anaya.jpg)
Shianne Hoatson, a sixth grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
photo not
available
Ariyah Parker, a third grade student from Umonhon Nation Public School, Macy.
(See attached file: Parker.jpg)
Janet Kuskie, a tenth grade student from Perkins County School, Grant. (Accepting the award for Janet is her mother, Norma Jean Kuskie. Janet was in a student exchange program in Norway at the time of the ceremony.)
(See attached file: Kuskie.jpg)
Drake Repschlaeger, a first grade student from West Point Elementary, West Point.
(See attached file: Repschlaeger.jpg)
Kaila Avent, a fourth grade student from Raymond Watson Elementary, Hastings.
(See attached file: Avent.jpg)
Kevin Estrada, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary School, Grand Island.
(See attached file: Estrada.jpg)


SizeFile Name
1,335 KB Spanel.jpg
1,217 KB Nelson.jpg
1,261 KB Rambi.jpg
1,156 KB Poessnecker.jpg
1,300 KB Kroeger.jpg
1,186 KB Laubner.jpg
1,168 KB Anaya.jpg
1,232 KB Parker.jpg
1,193 KB Kuskie.jpg
1,363 KB Repschlaeger.jpg
1,268 KB Avent.jpg
1,248 KB Estrada.jpg