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Kansas
Junior Duck Stamp Program

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A note from the Kansas coordinator   2013 winners   Exhibit Schedule

    The United States Fish & Wildlife Service and The Coleman Company, Inc. co-sponsor the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program for Kansas.  Twenty-five ribbons are awarded in each of four age groups (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12). The State's Best of Show represents Kansas at the National Competition (see below).

    This educational program is designed for all public, private, parochial and home-schooled students in grades kindergarten through 12 to learn more about conservation through the arts. Incorporating scientific and wildlife management principles into a visual arts curriculum creates an active awareness of the critical need to protect, preserve and enhance our wetland habitat for waterfowl, migratory songbirds, and the hundreds of other plants and animals that depend on wetlands for their survival. State and national recognition of students, teachers, and schools can be gained while increasing the students' understanding of waterfowl and their wetland habitats by having them participate in the stamp design contest. Eligible species are any North American migratory waterfowl (swan, duck or goose), Hawaiian Koloa, Laysan Duck or Nene. Many students thoroughly research their topic to provide themselves with better background information and assist them with their project.

Kansas joined the state competition in 1992.

Money raised by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps funds the purchase and leasing of waterfowl habitat.  Since 1934, Federal Duck Stamps have generated more than $750 million that has been used to preserve over 5.3 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the United States. Many of the more than 550 national wildlife refuges have been paid for all or in part by Duck Stamp money. Federal Duck Stamps are sold for $15 in many post offices across the country. You can also buy Federal and Junior Duck Stamps on the Internet and at many sporting goods and outdoor-gear stores.  The money raised from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps funds scholarships and promotes conservation education.

More information on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Junior Duck Stamp program may be found on their web site: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm      

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Dear Educators:

Draw a duck and win a trip to Washington, D.C.!  What a deal!

The national winner of the Junior Duck Stamp contest wins a free trip to Washington, D.C., along with a $5,000 scholarship. A pretty amazing prize package for drawing a picture of a duck! Of course, while only one lucky student will receive this honor, every K-12th grade student in Kansas - and the U.S. - has the opportunity to paint or draw their favorite duck, goose, or swan and vie for the top spot.

The Top 100 winners in Kansas - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention winners - will receive a congratulatory prize package, plus ribbon and certificates. Everyone who submits an entry receives certificates of participation and appreciation.

Draw a duck (or goose or swan) and maybe YOU can win the trip to Washington, D.C. and the $5,000 scholarship. You can't win if you don't draw!  Don't delay - the deadline for submitting your Junior Duck Stamp entry is March 15, 2014!

   The deadline for submitting an entry for 
  the 2014 Junior Duck Stamp contest is March 15, 2014.

For an idea how the competition works, click this icon Click here to download the 2012 Junior Duck Stamp brochure. to download the 2012 brochure.
(NOTE: The file size is 2.1 megabytes, which can be a lengthy download on a slow connection.)

Complete information on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Junior Duck Stamp program may be found on their web site: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm    

Contact Lorrie Beck (see below) if you live in Kansas and want further information.
If you do not live in Kansas, find your state coordinator by clicking here.

(On a Windows system, the best way to download the file is to right click on the link and choose "Save Target As" to save it to your hard drive, then open it from there.  You will need Acrobat Reader to view this file.  If you don't have that software already, you can get it for free from Adobe.)

JUDGING THE ENTRIES
Our panel of judges chooses three 1st place, three 2nd place, three 3rd place, and 16 Honorable Mention entries for each of the 4 age groups (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12) for a total of 100 awardees.

ALL original artwork (except the Best of Show, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winners) is returned by mid-April. Every student who submitted an entry will receive a certificate of participation.

The Best of Show original artwork is sent to Washington D.C. for the national competition, then becomes part of the national travelling exhibit and is not returned until June of the following year.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive their original artwork, ribbon, certificate, and a small prize package at an award ceremony beginning at noon on Saturday, May 12 at the Great Plains Nature Center.  The artwork, ribbon, certificate, and prizes will be mailed to those unable to attend the award ceremony.  The top Conservation Message winners (see below) will also be invited to the award ceremony on May 12.

The 64 Honorable Mention winners will receive their original artwork, ribbon, and certificate no later than the end of April.

Color copies of the Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winners will be made and they will be displayed at various venues around the state, including the State Fair.

Please contact me if you have any questions. 

- Lorrie Beck -
Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 E. 29th Street North
Wichita, KS 67220-2200
(316) 683-5499 x108

For the 2013 competition, 915 pieces of artwork were submitted from 22 Kansas public schools, 3 private schools, 17 home schools or home projects, 3 art studios, one 4-H Club and 6 private lessons. Entries were submitted in 4 age categories (Group 1: K-3rd grade; Group II: 4th - 6th grade; Group III: 7th - 9th grade; and Group IV: 10th - 12th grade).

These entries were judged by a panel of waterfowl enthusiasts, professionals and artists.

Judges for 2013:
Marc Murrell - Manager, Great Plains Nature Center
Jeanette Clement - Cabela's, Retail Events Manager
Mike Miller - Information Production Section chief, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
Mary Werner - Newman University, Director of Visual Arts
Mike Oldham - Project Leader, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Clarissa Miller, a 17-year old from Hutchinson,
captured “Best of Show” honors for Kansas in the judging on
Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

Her colored pencil drawing of a pair of American Widgeon will represent Kansas in the national Junior Duck Stamp competition on April 19, 2013 at the US Fish & Wildlife Service's National Conservation and Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.  Clarissa's entry will compete alongside the other 49 states’ “Best of Show” entries.

The first place national winner receives a $5,000 scholarship, a free trip to Washington D.C., and has his or her entry made into the current year's Junior Duck Stamp, which is sold nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of the $5.00 stamp go to fund conservation education and art scholarships.

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2013 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit Tour Schedule

Chaplin Nature Center - Arkansas City
April 30 – May 28
Pratt Nature Center - Pratt
May 8 – August 23
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge
April 29 – June 5
West Ridge Mall - Topeka
June 5 – July 8
Prairie Park Nature Center - Lawrence
June 5 – July 8
Lee Richardson Zoo – Garden City
July 24 – August 28
Kansas State Fair - Hutchinson
September 6 – 15
Johnson County Public Libraries
December 2013 – January 2014

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The Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest winners for 2013:

GROUP 1 (K-3rd grades)

  Student's Name Teacher/Parent School/Town
1st Place winners Kyndra McGinley Jay Stires Wanamaker Elementary School/Topeka
  Darius DeWerff Christina Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
  Eliana Mugglin Jacqueline Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
2nd Place winners Madelynn Otero Alfonso Otero Private studio lessons/Council Grove
  Madeleine Swilley Jacqueline Stockton Private art lessons/Maize
  Jackson Thorne Gayle Clayborn Gayle Clayborn Art Instructing/
Wichita
3rd Place winners Garrett Campbell Gayle Clayborn Gayle Clayborn Art Instructing/
Andover
  Dawn Hays Gayle Clayborn Gayle Clayborn Art Instructing/
Andover
  Andrew Roush Gayle Clayborn Gayle Clayborn Art Instructing/
Bel Aire
GROUP 2 (4-6th grades)
  Student's Name Teacher/Parent School/Town
1st Place winners Clint Chappell Greg Chappell Home Project/Shawnee
  Sierra Chappell Greg Chappell Home Project/Shawnee
  Lauren Galusha Diane Stockton Private art lessons/Maize
2nd Place winners Jeremiah Atkeson Jacqueline Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
  Skyler Clevenger Jacqueline Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
  Isabel Otero Alfonso Otero Private studio lesson/
Council Grove
3rd Place winners Careen Campbell Gayle Clayborn Gayle Clayborn Art Instructing/
Andover
  Chloe Clevenger Jacqueline Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
  Alexander DeWerff Jacqueline Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
GROUP 3 (7-9th grades)
  Student's Name Teacher/Parent School/Town
1st Place winners Sandra Garcia Ryan Hendricks Maize South Middle School/Maize
  Carly Honas Chris Honas Home project/Wichita
  Claire Westfall Shari Westfall Home project/Topeka
2nd Place winners Joanna Mugglin Christina Stockton Private art lessons/Wichita
  Allison Riner Garett Riner Home project/Topeka
  Russel Watson Gayle Clayborn Gayle Clayborn Art Instructing/
Wichita
3rd Place winners Jadyn Landreth Ryan Hendricks Maize South Middle School/Wichita
  Emma Queen Ryan Hendricks Maize South Middle School/Wichita
  Heather Woleslagel Leann Woleslagel Home project/Hutchinson
GROUP 4 (10-12th grades)
Student's Name Teacher/Parent School/Town
1st Place winners Logan McNay Pippa McNay Home school/Valley Center
BEST OF SHOW! Clarissa Miller Evelyn Miller Home project/Hutchinson
Jacqueline Stockton Diane Stockton 1st Stockton Academy/Wichita
2nd Place winners Susanne Maestas Scott Lee Victoria High School.Victoria
Emiliano Molina Dana Seiler NE Magnet High School/Wichita
Billie Spears Kent Thompson Osborne High School/Osborne
3rd Place winners Rachel Hermes Dana Seiler NE Magnet High School/Wichita
Caleb Kemplay Sandie Kemplay Home project/Marysville
Javier Martinez Dana Seiler NE Magnet High School/Wichita
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Conservation Messages
In addition to the artwork, judges also evaluated
the Conservation Messages of each entrant.

Conservation Messages allow students to articulate in words the things they have learned, and explain why waterfowl, wetlands, and nature are important to them.

The following are the top three Conservation Messages
in each of the four age categories:

GROUP 1 (K-3rd grades)

Jenessa Broxterman
Farley Elemantary/Topeka
"It is important to conserve habitat for wildlife because it provides food, shelter, water and a safe living environment for animals."
Jenna Wright
Wanamaker Elementary/Topeka
"People can help animals by conserving wetlands and protecting animal’s homes."
Conner Botts
Wanamaker Elementary/Topeka
"Conservation is important to me so that many other children can enjoy seeing animals in their habitat. "

GROUP 2 (4-6th grades)

Marissa Christensen
Wanamaker Elementary/Topeka
WINNER: BEST KANSAS CONSERVATION MESSAGE!
"Every species gets one chance at survival. Once they’re gone, we can’t bring them back."
Bradley Mathewson
Wanamaker Elementary/Topeka
"Conservation is important so future generations can witness these places and the wildlife there."
Jimin Park
Farley Elementary/Topeka
"The enormity and beauty of the wild stuns me. It shows us that we are a small component in nature."

GROUP 3 (7-9th grades)

Lauren Sauer
USD 325/
Phillipsburg High School
"If you mess with the environment, it also messes with you."
Jacey Wallace
Maize South Middle School/
Wichita
"A world without wetlands is one I don’t want to live in."
Dryden Dalbey
Lansing Middle School
"I have learned that if the wetlands are not conserved it will not only effect animals it will affect me as well."

GROUP 4 (10-12th grades)

Chloe Spray
USD 325/
Phillipsburg High School
"Keep our environment clean to preserve nature for the future."
Taylor Alderman
USD 417/
Council Grove High School
"Without conservation, life is in jeopardy."
Billie Spears
Osborne High School/Osborne
"Let’s stand up and work together to protect our wildlife for generations to come."
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Congratulations to all these students!

Best of Show

2013 Best Of Show - by Clarissa Miller

The Best of Show for 2013 was created by Clarissa Miller, from Hutchinson.
She depicted a pair of American Widgeon with
colored pencils.

Congratulations Clarissa!

Clarissa's entry will vie with the other 49 states' Best of Show
in the national Junior Duck Stamp competition
at the National Conservation and Training Center on April 19.

The first place winner in the national competition
receives a $5,000 scholarship and has his or her design
made into the current year's Junior Duck Stamp!

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