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Poster contest gets kids thinking about conservation
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Gathered for the Ceres Recycling Poster Contest are: (in front, left to right starting with girl in pink shirt), Jenna Petree, Aiva Caballero, Luna Gutierrez, Evelyn Mendoza, Chance Jackson, Audrina Resendez, Lily Skeen and Trinity Jackson; (in the back row), Rosemary Martinez of the city of Ceres, Itzel Guzman, Diana Sanchez, Yesenia Vizcaino, Juan Zamarripa, Jillian Mande, Leilanie S. Ware, Vanessa Muniz, Dale Hamlin, Thomas Carrillo, Alondra-Margarita Juarez, Jade Mendoza, Sammantha Hill and Dan Pangrazio, CUSDs Asst. Supt. of Business Services. - photo by JEFF BENZIGER/Courier photo

To get kids thinking about ways to recycle at home and at school, the city of Ceres and Ceres Unified School District held its 26th annual Recycling Poster Contest, with the help of awards.

A reception for the winners of the contest was held Thursday at the Argus/Endeavor High School multi-purpose room.

Students at 18 Ceres schools were asked to create posters with artwork depicting the need to recycle to help be good stewards of the planet. Rosemary Martinez, an Administrative Analyst with the city of Ceres Public Works Department, said that students created posters with teachers picking their top five favorites. The top poster contest entries were then judged by members of the Central Valley High School Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Martinez said CUSD has been instrumental in teaching youngsters about environmental awareness, including the need to recycle, not waste water and not allow hazardous spills into the city's storm drainage system. The city has been sponsoring the contest since 1993.

Martinez doled out cash prizes of $50 for first-place winners, $35 for second-place winners, $25 for third and $15 for honorable mention entrants.

Winners in the pre-school to first grade division were: Lily Skeen of Lucas Dual Language Academy, first place; Audrina Resendez of Sinclair Elementary, second place; Jenna Petree of Walter White Elementary, third place; and Trinity Jackson of Beaver Elementary School, honorable mention.

Second- and third-grade division winners were: Juan Zamarripa of Don Pedro Elementary School, first; Chance Jackson of Whitmore Charter Elementary, second place; Luna Gutierrez of Don Pedro Elementary, third place; and Aiva Caballero of Hidahl Elementary, honorable mention.
The four winners of the fourth- through sixth-grade division were: Evelyn Mendoza of Hidahl Elementary, first; Jade Mendoza of Walter White Elementary, second; Leilanie S. Ware of Sinclear Elementary, third; and Diana Sanchez of Carroll Fowler Elementary, honorable mention.

Seventh- and eighth-grade winners were: Jillian Mande of Cesar Chavez Jr. High, first; Alondra-Margarita Juarez of Mae Hensley Jr. High, second; Yesenia Vizcaino of Mae Hensley, third; and Sammantha Hill, honorable mention.
Four poster creators won in the high school division. They were: Itzel Guzman of Central Valley High School, first; Dale Hamlin of Ceres High, second; Vanessa Muniz of CVHS, third; and Thomas Carrillo of CVHS, honorable mention.