2000 Arbor Day National Poster Contest to Reach Record Number of Students

09/14/99
Lincoln, Nebraska--The theme "Trees are Terrific. . . in All Shapes and Sizes" has been chosen for the 2000 Arbor Day National Poster Contest. The contest is open to fifth grade students and is designed to help them understand the need for tree diversity in a community forest. Now in its ninth year, the contest is sponsored in part by the Keebler Company.

Fifth grade students in states represented by a state coordinator are eligible for the competition. Organizers expect the 2000 Arbor Day National Poster Contest to reach more than 40,000 fifth-grade classrooms in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Each participating state will select a state winner, with national judging to take place in April, 2000.

The national winner, the teacher of the winning student, and one parent will receive an expense-paid trip to Nebraska City, Neb., birthplace of Arbor Day, where they will participate in the April 28-30 Arbor Day National Awards Weekend. Many of the weekend's events take place at Lied Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm, a National Historic Landmark owned and operated by The National Arbor Day Foundation.

The national winner will also receive a $1,000 savings bond and lifetime membership in the Arbor Day Foundation, while the teacher of the winning student will receive $200 for classroom materials. For the first time in the history of the contest, second and third place national winners will also be recognized. The second and third place winners will earn savings bonds worth $500 and $250 respectively, and their teachers will receive awards of $100 and $50.

Information on the Arbor Day National Poster Contest and a free activities guide are available from The National Arbor Day Foundation, Poster Contest Coordinator, P.O. Box 85784, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501-5784, or by e-mail at [email protected].