For Immediate Release Contact: Wendy Fox

June 4, 2007 617-626-4961

ARBOR DAY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS HONORED

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today honored the seven winners of the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest in a ceremony at Chocksett Middle School in Sterling where First Place winner Hope Russell is a student. The theme “Trees are Terrific, and Forests are Too!” drew entries from more than 1,500 fifth graders in public and private schools across the Commonwealth.

Eric Seaborn, Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator for DCR congratulated the winners. “These posters beautifully depict the way in which trees make our cities and towns, healthier, greener and more pleasant places to live,” he said. In addition to forestry related educational gifts, winners received art supplies, and DCR had their posters professionally mounted for display. DCR also planted a tree in honor of Hope Russell’s winning poster on the school grounds. Brigham’s Ice Cream Company graciously donated complimentary ice cream sandwiches for the entire fifth grade of the school and the winners from the other schools.

DCR also recognized Lindsay Kosel of Memorial School in Wilbraham (second place), Madison Babula of Stony Hill School in Wilbraham (third place) and four Honorable Mentions: Tiffani Beeman of Chestnut Hill Community School in Belchertown, Hannah Stansfield of Brayton Elementary in North Adams, Santhana Xapilak of Chandler Elementary in Worcester, and Caley Kells of Sunderland Elementary in Sunderland.

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