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Washington Fifth Grader Wins Arbor Day National Poster Contest

date 04/01/00

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Nebraska City, Neb--Jonathan Zander, a fifth grade student in the Snohomish Home Education Cooperative, of Snohomish, Washington, is the grand prize winner in the 2000 Arbor Day National Poster Contest. For the first time in the nine-year history of the contest, national second and third place winners have also been recognized. Nicole Beaman, of Cornerstone Christian Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina, earned second place honors, and Seth Nuti, of Smith Valley Schools, Smith, Nevada, won third place. The national contest is co-sponsored by Keebler Company and The National Arbor Day Foundation.

This year’s winning posters were selected for their interpretation of the contest theme "Trees are Terrific . . . in All Shapes and Sizes." Fifth grade students from 45 states and the District of Columbia took part in the 2000 contest, with state winners advancing to the national competition. In all, more than 53,000 curriculum kits were distributed to schools across the country.

Jonathan and his parents, Julie and Douglas Zander, will join the Foundation for the April 28-30 Arbor Day Weekend celebration at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Neb. Also attending will be Washington State Poster Contest Coordinator Sarah Foster, of the state Department of Natural Resources in Olympia, Wash. As the grand prize winner, Jonathan will receive a $1,000 savings bond, a framed color-copy of his poster, and a lifetime membership in The National Arbor Day Foundation. His home education cooperative will receive $200 for classroom materials.

For earning second place, Nicole Beaman will receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and her school will receive $100 for classroom supplies. Seth Nuti will be awarded a $250 Savings Bond in recognition of his third place finish, with his school receiving a $50 prize. The savings bonds for the top three winners were made possible by a grant from Lands End.

First held in 1992, the Arbor Day National Poster Contest is open to fifth grade students in states with a designated state contest coordinator. The contest is designed to help promote the importance of Arbor Day and tree planting.

The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship.

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