Governor Proclaims “Water is Life Day”. . .
Area Youth Wins $1,000 Scholarship

Governor Pawlenty proclaimed May 5th as “Water is Life Day”–— the proclamation was presented to the Freshwater Society at the first annual Water is Life state scholarship art contest gala at the Gray Freshwater Center in Excelsior. Karlee Schwertman, from Le Sueur-Henderson High School, received second place honors and a $1,000 scholarship for her painting depicting the theme “water is life” focusing on the importance of protecting and safeguarding our freshwater resources.

South Central and Southeast Service Cooperatives were pleased to partner with The Freshwater Society, a non-profit environment education organization, and coordinate this art contest for area high school students. Students had the opportunity to submit art in three categories: flat surface (painting or drawing), photography, or three-dimensional (sculpture) in response to the theme, Water is Life (based on a Les Kouba painting), focusing on our most precious resource—water.

Students were judged regionally at a reception in April and six semi-finalists advanced to state competition. The Carnegie Art Center in Mankato was host for the SCSC regional competition, where 25 students vied for regional honors and scholarship opportunities. This contest was offered to high school students through their school’s art department.

2005 CONTEST RESULTS
Winners:
First Place ($1,500): Viktoria Ishchuk, Mayo High School
Second Place ($1,000): Karlee Schwertman, LeSueur-Henderson High School
Third Place ($500): Stephanie Kollasch, Pine Island High School

Semi-Finalists:
Nicolas Barnes, Winona Sr. High School
Brandon Regner and Kelly Thompson, Austin High School
Mary Kinstler and Jennifer Kuhlman, St. Peter High School
Sidona Erickson, Mitch Pucik, and Grace Phelps, Maple River High School
R.Ellen Brubaker, Studio Academy, Rochester

Please visit www.mnscsc.org (Water is Life Art Contest) for more information on the contest and links to the Freshwater Society. Information on next year’s contest will be posted soon.