The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2010 “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 2010 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Thursday, August 13, where they were honored by Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy 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 is featured on the cover was submitted by:

David von Behren, an eighth-grade student from Falls City Middle School of Falls City.

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

Austin Cornelius, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.
Maddy Dimmitt, a first-grade student from St. Ludger Elementary, Creighton.
Justin Lee, a sixth-grade student from Brownlee Elementary, Brownlee.
Mariola Sanchez, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.
Sloan Roseberry, a ninth-grade student from Falls City High School, Falls City.
Darci O’Neel, a fourth-grade student from Elyria School, Elyria.
Kelsey Sloup, a sixth-grade student at St. John Lutheran, Seward.
Hannah Standlea, a Kindergarten student from West Lawn Elementary, Grand Island.
Jazzmine Tate, an eighth-grade student from McMillan Magnet Center, Omaha.
Kara Trampe, an eleventh-grade student from Amherst High School, Amherst.
Brian Mueting, a student from Madonna Special Needs School, Omaha.
Bailey Anstey, a sixth-grade student from St. Bernadette, Bellevue.

This is the fourth 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.

“Each year, we have received hundreds of entries from students all across the state,” Linder said. “This year, we received more than 1,750 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 toNDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov .

Below are photos of the individual contest winners, taken at the Aug. 13 ceremony. In each photo, Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy is at left, and
NDEQ Director Mike Linder is at right. (Right click on jpg icon and select "Open in New Window.")