To get kids thinking about ways to recycle at home and at school, the city of Ceres and Ceres Unified School District held its 25th annual Recycling Poster Contest, with the help of awards.
A reception for the winners of the contest was held recently 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: Bertha Vazquez-Mendoza of Walter White, first place; Camila Sims of Lucas Elementary, second; Izabel Rodriguez of Walter White, third; Fatima Lara of Sinclear, honorable mention.
Second- and third-grade division winners were: Rema Shaofar of Sam Vaughn, first; Caden Mendonca of Lucas, second place; Fernanda Sanchez of Caswell, third; Jolissa Guillory of Lucas, honorable mention.
The four winners of the fourth- through sixth-grade division were: Breyanna Calderon of Carroll Fowler, first; Alondra-Margarita Juarez of Caswell, second; Vanesa Garibay Heredia of Lucas, third; and Gael Ramirez of Hidahl, honorable mention.
Seventh- and eighth-grade winners were all from Mae Hensley Junior High School. They were: Elizabeth Vieyra of Mae Hensley, first; Jasmin Zamora-Real, second place; Azucena Rodriguez, third place; and Alexia Gonzalez and Gurmannet Bahia, both receiving honorable mentions
Four poster creators won in the high school division: Kay Kizer of Central Valley High, first; Fernando Gonzalez of Ceres High, second; Marilyn Diaz of Central Valley High, third; and Tayshia Simmaly of Ceres High, honorable mention.
