The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2014 “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 2014 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Thursday, August 8, where they were honored by Gov. Dave Heineman and NDEQ Director Mike Linder. Each month, the calendar features one of the 12 winning environmental posters. A 13th winner’s artwork provides the cover for the calendar.

The entry featured on the cover was submitted by Eliza Klein, a fifth grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

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

Catie Tangeman, a sixth grade student from Holy Ghost Catholic, Omaha.
Vince Hartline, a tenth grade student from Fort Calhoun High School, Fort Calhoun.
Davis Ardeano-Arriaza, a first grade student from Fisher’s 24 School, Schuyler.
Haily Asche, a fourth grade student from Gates Elementary School, Grand Island.
Lauren Hebert, a second grade student from MCR Montessori Elementary, Omaha.
Paityn Homan, a third grade student from Morrill Elementary, Morrill.
Jaeden Bunda, a fourth grade student from St. Wenceslaus School, Omaha.
Gage Stutzman, a first grade student from Fisher’s 24 School, Schuyler.
Ashley Hassett, a sixth grade student from Hershey Public, Hershey.
Raden Orton, a second grade student from Keya Paha County School, Springview.
Bailie Vanarsdall, a sixth grade student from Hershey Public, Hershey.
Brook Vaught, an eleventh grade student from Papillion-LaVista South, Papillion.
 

This is the eighth 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.

“We received more than 1,500 entries this year,” Linder said. “These winning entries not only demonstrate the students’ 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. 8 ceremony (photos will be posted Aug. 9). 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." The last photo is a shot of the entire group.)