The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2012 “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 2012 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Tuesday, August 9, 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 Faith Brueggeman, an eleventh-grade student from Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha.

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

Andrea Widhalm, an eighth-grade student from Holy Ghost Catholic School, Omaha.
Yeshaya Meier, a kindergarten student from Fisher’s 24 School, Schuyler.
Christian Sanchez, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.
Joanna Ardeano Arriaza, a first-grade student from Fisher’s 24 School, Schuyler.
Hayley Larson, a fourth-grade student from Gates Elementary, Grand Island.
Carly Janssen, a third-grade student from All Saints Catholic School, Holdrege.
Louie A. Williams, a third-grade student from Richland School, Richland.
Landen Reyes, a first-grade student from Richland School, Richland.
Samantha Jackson, an eighth-grade student from Hershey Public School, Hershey.
Maggie Rost, a sixth-grade student from Holy Ghost Catholic School, Omaha.
Taylor York, an eleventh-grade student from Aurora High School, Aurora.
Mikahla R., a seventh-grade student from Wegner Middle School, Boys Town.
 

This is the sixth 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 greatly increased from the earlier years of the contest,” Linder said. “This year, we received more than 2.200 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 NDEQ Director Mike Linder is at right. (Right click on jpg icon and select "Open in New Window.")