|
Click on photo to view larger image
|
Maryland’s environmentally-savvy high school students have a real vision for our future, even if through a camera lens. On Friday, April 20, 2007, MDE partnered with the Newton Marasco Foundation to present the Green Focus Awards. The purpose of the award is to use the art of photography to raise community awareness and foster the environmental education of our nation’s youth. This year’s contest theme, “Senses of Wonder” paid tribute to Rachel Carson on the centennial of her birth.
The Grand Prize winner, Untitled, by Tim Powers of Towson High School depicts a row boat on a lake with reflections of clouds and the shoreline. Nine Green Focus Awards for outstanding environmental photographs were awarded to seven Maryland high school students. In addition to the grand prize, winners were announced in four categories: Black and White, Field and Forest, Child in Nature, and Coasts.
Category winners include:
-
Child in Nature – Christina Ball, Rockville High School, Rockville
-
Coasts – Melissa Lawson, James Hubert Blake High School, Silver Spring
-
Black & White – Alex Silver, Winston Churchill High School, Potomac
-
Forests and Fields – Lydia Richards, Winston Churchill High School, Potomac
NMF, in partnership with MDE and Maryland State Department of Education, established the annual GreenFocus – Earth Day still photography contest for Maryland high school students. While
MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson in her welcome remarks applauded the students for their appreciation of nature. “Today we celebrate your achievements in educating citizens about the environment through photography. Your contributions to this contest show the degree to which you, as citizens of Maryland have a profound appreciation for our state’s environment and can make a difference in our future.”
“NMF has been amazed by the creativity, talent, and enthusiasm of the high school students in the State of Maryland,” said Amy Marasco Newton, president of Newton Marasco Foundation. “It’s heartening to the foundation that this next generation has so beautifully expressed its commitment to stewardship of our environment.”
The Grand Prize winner received a monetary prize of $300, and $200 was awarded to the winner’s high school. Each category winner received $125. All winners and honorable mentions also received special citations from Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Review of the submitted photos and selection of the winners was conducted by a diverse panel including professional photographers, environmental professionals, and education professionals. This year’s panel included noted photographer and Director of MDE’s Science Services Administration Dr. Rich Eskin. “The quality of these photos demonstrated creativity, originality and photographic vision,” said Dr. Eskin. The talents of these students can be applied in many aspects of fine arts for photojournalism.”
Click here for more information about the Newton Marasco Foundation, the GreenFocus Award and the 2007 winners along with a list of past winners.
|
