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Student from Jackson Wins 2009 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest

University School of Jackson student Olivia Hughes has won top honors in the 2009 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp art competition held March 26th at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. The “Best of Show” entry of a pair of redheads entitled “Searching for Suzy” was designed in colored pencils and acrylic. Olivia, age 15 is the youngest student to win top honors since the Tennessee program began 15 years ago. Olivia has entered the contest each year since she was in kindergarten and has often won awards for her talent. Her art teacher, DeAnn McDowell from Dyersburg has participated in the Jr. Duck Stamp program since the program began and each year has had many students placing well.

Also entered in Tennessee’s fifteenth Junior Duck Stamp Contest were over 555 individuals in four different age group categories. The other eleven finalists and first place winners in their category included Becca Reed, Juli-Cait Castellaw, Hailey McKee, Emily McKee and Claire Tidwell of Dyersburg; Rachael Skillman, Kelsey Skillman, Joanna Rush and Alyssa Skillman of Chattanooga; Gracie Brock of Finley; and Kyra Bishop of Clarksville.

Ribbons, plaques, and other prizes were presented to the top 100 winners at an awards ceremony at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere on May 9. The awards ceremony was sponsored in part by the Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. All attendees and their families were treated to a free trip to the zoo following the awards ceremony. Ms. Hughes received the $1,000 Jeanette Rudy college scholarship provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation along with other prizes including a framed 2008 Federal Duck Stamp and Print. Her artwork will also be made into the 2009 Waterfowl Series stamp produced by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and administered by the staff of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Partners in the program include the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.

Judging this year’s competition were Robert Wheat and Richard Hines with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Joe Casey, wildlife photographer and carver, Don Calder of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Jane Jolley, Field Representative for Senator Corker.

On April 22nd Olivia’s artwork competed at the national competition held at the National Postal Museum in Washington DC. A single wood duck painted by Lily Spang of Ohio will be used as the design for the 2009-2010 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. Along with the best of show winners from the other 50 states, Olivia’s original artwork will travel on display in galleries and wildlife museums throughout the country for one year.

In Tennessee the 36 First, Second and Third place winners will also display at locations round the state throughout the following year. For more information about this program, display locations or to purchase a Federal Junior Duck Stamp, see the refuge website at www.fws.gov/TennesseeRefuge, or call the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge at 731-642-2091.

The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic educational program designed to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. Using scientific and wildlife observation principles, the program helps students communicate visually what they have learned by creating an entry for the Junior Duck Stamp art contest. This non-traditional pairing of subjects brings new interest to both science and the arts. It crosses cultural, ethnic, social and geographic boundaries to teach greater awareness of our Nation’s natural resources. The Junior Duck Stamp Program is based on the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp commonly known as the “Duck Stamp”.

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