The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2016 “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 2016 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday, August 17, where they were honored by Gov. Pete Ricketts and NDEQ Director Jim Macy. 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 Laila Swaim, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

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

Abigail Lewis, a first-grade student from Fisher’s 24 School, Schuyler.

Jaden Brack, a second-grade student from Weeping Water Public School, Weeping Water.

Faith McDonald, a fifth-grade student from Centura, Cairo.

Katelyn Powers, a seventh-grade student from McPherson County School, Tryon.

Renita Livingston, a third-grade student from MCR Elementary, Omaha.

Julian Camden, an eighth-grade student from St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Arlington.

Jamyoung Ku, a third-grade student from St Patrick’s Elkhorn, Elkhorn.

Brandon Hollister, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

Clair Lindsay, a sixth-grade student from St. Mary’s School, Wayne.

Joshua Eisenmann, a first-grade student from Fisher's 24 School, Schulyer.

Jessica Knippelmeyer, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

Liam Spieker, a sixth-grade student from St. Mary’s School, Wayne.

Nearly 1,500 students submitted entries in this year’s contest.

“The artwork in this year’s entries was very impressive,” Macy said. “In addition to the students’ artistic talent, these posters also express important messages about protecting 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. 17 ceremony. In each photo, Governor Pete Ricketts is at right, and NDEQ Director Jim Macy is at left. The last photo is a shot of the entire group.