Stonington, CT – New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) announced this year's winning artists for the statewide calendar drawing contest entitled "Long Island Sound and Its Watershed: What It Means to Me."The annual drawing contest is open to all Connecticut students currently in Grades K-6. Grace McKee of Niantic Center School was named the overall winner. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of next year's calendar.New England Science & Sailing Announces Winning Artists in Statewide Contest
NESS's President and CEO Spike Lobdell commented, "Over 1,800 talented young artists from across the state participated in this year's contest. All the imaginative, inspiring creations that were submitted depicted environmental stewardship and the importance of preserving Long Island Sound. Many thanks to the students as well as their teachers and parents who provided support."
A panel of judges chose two first place and two honorable mention winners from each grade as this year's award recipients. The students will be honored at an award ceremony in Hartford later this month. The artwork will also be part of a year-long traveling exhibit at various locations in Connecticut.
Honorees include:
Grade K
First Place
Rynesmee Stilley
Harbor School, New London
Grade K
First Place
Rylee Cort
Individual Entry
Grade K
Honorable Mention
Henry de Oliveira
Morris Street School, Danbury
Grade K
Honorable Mention
Chloe Brissitte
Hayestown Avenue School, Danbury
Grade 1
First Place
Nayeliz De La Cruz
Smalley Academy, New Britain
Grade 1
First Place
Malikiy Caruthers
Harbor School, New London
Grade 1
Honorable Mention
Anya Nadel
Greenwich Japanese School, Greenwich
Grade 1
Honorable Mention
Amanda Muench
Preston Veterans' Memorial School, Preston
Grade 2
First Place
Takuma Fuwa
Greenwich Japanese School, Greenwich
Grade 2
First Place
Sarah Bellissimo
Sacred Heart School, Greenwich
Grade 2
Honorable Mention
Tycen LaBelle
Preston Veterans' Memorial School, Preston
Grade 2
Honorable Mention
Gianna Duzant
Dr. Charles E. Murphy, Oakdale
Grade 3
Overall Winner
Grace McKee
Niantic Center School, Niantic
Grade 3
First Place
Shota Taguchi
Greenwich Japanese School, Greenwich
Grade 3
Honorable Mention
Jeremy Soler
Harbor School, New London
Grade 3
Honorable Mention
Ariele Cardoso
Preston Veterans' Memorial School, Preston
Grade 4
First Place
Yusuke Miura
Greenwich Japanese School, Greenwich
Grade 4
First Place
Lucas Auten
St. Mark School, Stratford
Grade 4
Honorable Mention
Nicholas Pompilli
Niantic Center School, Niantic
Grade 4
Honorable Mention
Kaina A. Melendez
Smalley Academy, New Britain
Grade 5
First Place
Skylar Frost
St. Michael School, Pawcatuck
Grade 5
First Place
Yuri Ikeda
Greenwich Japanese School, Greenwich
Grade 5
Honorable Mention
Zachary Rios
Smalley Academy, New Britain
Grade 5
Honorable Mention
Janelle Lennon
Preston Veterans' Memorial School, Preston
Grade 6
First Place
Mia Bellemare
Hartland School, East Hartford
Grade 6
First Place
Diana Gavrylchuk
Individual Entry, Stamford
Grade 6
Honorable Mention
Andrea Tropea
Individual Entry, Stamford
Grade 6
Honorable Mention
Amalie Harper
Individual Entry, Stamford
NESS, a nationally-recognized and award-winning nonprofit ocean adventure education organization, provides students of all ages with year-round ocean adventure programming that includes marine science, sailing, and water sports. NESS scholastic programs support teachers' STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) curricula with a unique combination of on-the-water and in-the-classroom lessons intended to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.
The annual "Long Island Sound & Its Watershed" calendar drawing contest is funded by a grant from the Dominion Foundation and was previously overseen by the Long Island Sound Foundation. For more information about the drawing contest, please visit http://nessf.org/schools/LIScalendar.
New England Science & Sailing Foundation
Caroline Knowles Marketing Coordinator
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New England Science & Sailing Foundation, Inc. (NESS), is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ocean adventure education organization that engages students in experiential learning to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. Marine sciences, adventure sports, powerboating, and sailing are platforms for inquiry-based learning, transformational personal discovery, teaching respect and responsibility for the sea, and creating connections with the community. NESS operates year-round with families, schools, and organizations to provide high-quality programs that blend an innovative curriculum with exciting ocean adventure activities. For more information, visit www.nessf.org.