The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2011 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” environmental calendar. The statewide contest is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) and focuses on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

The students whose submissions were selected for the 2011 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Tuesday, August 10, where they were honored by Gov. Dave Heineman and NDEQ Director Mike Linder. Each month, the calendar will feature one of the 12 winning environmental posters. A 13th winner’s artwork will provide the cover for the calendar.

The entry which will be featured on the cover was submitted by:

Ellie Spanel, a twelfth grade student from Norfolk Senior High School, Norfolk.

The other 12 winners who are featured in the calendar are:

Gavin Nelson, a kindergarten student from Fischer’s 24 School, Schuyler.
Kanemah Rambi, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.
Dawson Poessnecker, a fifth grade student from North Bend Elementary, North Bend.
Kelly Kroeger, a second grade student from Swanson Elementary, Omaha.
Courtney Laubner, a seventh grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
Christian Anaya, a first grade student from Roosevelt Elementary, Scottsbluff.
Shianne Hoatson, a sixth grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
Ariyah Parker, a third grade student from Umonhon Nation Public School, Macy.
Janet Kuskie, a tenth grade student from Perkins County School, Grant.
Drake Repschlaeger, a first grade student from West Point Elementary, West Point.
Kaila Avent, a fourth grade student from Raymond Watson Elementary, Hastings.
Kevin Estrada, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary School, Grand Island.

This is the fifth year that NDEQ has sponsored the contest, and Linder said he continues to be impressed with the number and quality of submissions from across the state.

“The number of entries we receive from across the state has increased each year,” Linder said. “This year, we received more than 3,000 entries, so it was especially difficult for us to choose 13 winners. These winning entries not only demonstrate the winners’ artistic talent, but they also convey important messages about the need to protect our environment.”

Copies of the calendar are available by contacting NDEQ at P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, or by sending an e-mail request to NDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov .

Below are photos of the individual contest winners, taken at the Aug. 10 ceremony. In each photo, Governor Dave Heineman is at left, and