November 27, 2009
Gov. Bill Richardson joined the Southwest Environmental Center in congratulating the winners of the Center’s Mexican wolf art and essay contests at the center on Saturday, Nov. 21.
First place in each of the contests were awarded an iPod Touch and a trip into “wolf country” with Steel Horse Adventure Tours of Hanover, N.M. Second place in the art contest was awarded a signed Robert Bateman print of a Mexican wolf, and in the essay contest the runner-up received a signed copy of “Wolves and Men” from Barry Lopez.
The award ceremony featured remarks from Richardson, a clip from the film “The Lords of Nature,” a howling contest and a special recognition for some of the teachers who went above and beyond the contest’s requirements. Cari Aguilera and Susan Colquitt of Lynn Middle School, Olin Calk of Sierra Middle School and Dabareh Vowell of Animas Public Schools were all acknowledged for the additional work they did with their students to engage them with the Mexican wolf in New Mexico.
With only 52 Mexican wolves remaining in the wild, these teachers were commended for their extraordinary effort to have students critically examine one of New Mexico’s most pressing conservation issues.
All of the students’ work will be on display through the holiday season at the Southwest Environmental Center’s Cottonwood Gallery.
The essay contest winners were: • First Place – A.J. Phillips, Camino Real Middle School, • Second Place – Melody Reeves, Lynn Middle School • Honorable Mention – Brittany Hoffman, Animas • Honorable Mention – Judah Cleavland, Las Cruces, homeschooled The art contest winners were: • First Place – Eliud Morales, Chaparral Middle School • Second Place – Isabeau Egan, Sierra Middle School • Honorable Mention – Anthony Goulart, T or C Middle School • Honorable Mention – Alexia DeVogel, Lynn Middle School
The story above appeared on page A11 in the Las Cruces Bulletin
