Mayor Isaac Akerman and members of Lakewood’s Shade Tree Commission recently recognized the 25 winners of the 2015 Arbor Day Poster Contest, open to public school students, grades one to five.
All recipients — one first place winner, two second place winners, two third place winners, and 20 honorable mentions — received Proclamations from Lakewood Township and the New Jersey State Legislature, and two tickets to a Lakewood BlueClaws game, donated by the Lakewood BlueClaws. First, Second and Third Place award winners also received a cash prize donated by First Commerce Bank, Lakewood.
The judges evaluated the quality of the artwork submitted as well as how well the students conveyed the role trees play in the environment. Shade Tree Commission members who presented awards to the winners were Dr. Michael F. Gross, chairman, Craig Theibault, vice chairman; and Mary Kay Malec, executive assistant. All posters were judged by the Shade Tree Commission members.
The winners:
Oak Street School
Grade1: Honorable Mention: Ashley Elias Flores, Jamie Garcia, Alisson Miranda-Alvarez
Grade 2: Honorable Mention: Brenda Mazzoco Coatl, Joanna Flores De Lossantos, Oscar Mena-Naranjo, Justin Rocha
Grade 3: Honorable Mention: Miriam Contreras-Campos, Melissa Lopez-Cisneros
Grade 4: Second Place: Jaimily Flores; Honorable Mention: Carolina Marquez, Andrea Araiza Ramirez, Daniela Tablas
Grade 5: First Place: Jayzi Gonzalez Salazar; Honorable Mention: Janet Calvario Aguilar, Aaliyah Arias, Jose Espinoza, Margarita Espinoza
Clifton Avenue School
Grade 2: Second Place: Fatima Ocana
Grade 3: Third Place: Sandra Cilia, Alondra Silva; Honorable Mention: Kevin Ortega Castro
Grade 4: Honorable Mention: Julio Rosales
Ella G. Clarke School
Grade 4: Honorable Mention: Edith Ceaca, Xiomara Rojas
Dr. Gross, a full-time administrator and biology professor at Georgian Court University (GCU) and director of the university’s arboretum, said, “The Shade Tree Commission appreciates the support shown by the Lakewood School District administration and teachers for the yearly Arbor Day Poster Contest, which we hold to raise awareness of the importance of trees among children. We hope that what the children learn about trees will cause them to take an interest in trees and in planting trees and preserving Lakewood’s valuable tree resource.”
Lakewood Township has been designated a Tree City for having a commitment to caring for and managing public trees, and for its annual Arbor Day programs.
Picture Caption: Lakewood Officials with Arbor Day Poster Winners (l. to rt.) Thomas Henshaw, Municipal Manager; Committeeman Michael D’Elia; Dr. Michael Gross; Township Attorney Steven Secare (behind Dr. Gross; Mayor Isaac Akerman; Superintendent of Schools Laura Winter; Committeeman Ray Coles; Vice President of Shade Tree Commission Craig Theibault; Township Clerk Kathryn Cirulli; and Mary Kay Malec, Shade Tree Commission.
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