Page 6 - SeptOct2019

STUDENTS TO VIE FOR NATUREWORKS-SUTTON ART AWARD Now in its 16th year, the Natureworks-Sutton Student Art Award competition is seeking entries. The contest awards up to $20,000 to winning stu- dents and their instructors as determined by the selection committee. Through this contest, more than 2,600 Oklahoma high school students have been encouraged to express themselves through art since 2003. The awards rec- ognize high school students who demonstrate the ability to communicate current conservation topics in compelling ways. “From honeybees to Texas horned lizards, through sculptures to pastels, these students have intriguing stories to tell,” said Audra Fogle, devel- opment director for the Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville. “It is exciting to be able to connect our conservation mission with schools to provide significant scholarships for students and the teachers who work so hard to run their programs on shoestring budgets.” In addition to the regular prizes, one entry will be selected for the Oklahoma Department of Wild- life Conservation Special Award, a cash prize for the best depiction of an Oklahoma-related conser- vation subject. The art contest is free to enter and open to Oklaho- ma students grades 9-12 attending public and private schools or are home-schooled. In addition to the artwork, each student must submit a 250-word essay that explains how his or her work communicates information about a current conservation issue. Each submission is judged two-thirds on the artwork and one-third on the essay. Entries are accepted in three categories: 2-D, 3-D and photography. Entries will be accepted online Jan. 1, 2020. Artwork will be due in early January and will be on public view. Award winners will be announced at a reception in February. For more information, go to www.suttoncenter.org/education. COMMUNICATING EXCELLENCE: The Wildlife Department's Information Section took several awards at the Association for Conservation Information's annual conference in Georgia in the categories of marketing, videography, writing and photography. Winning ACI’s highest honor for his leadership and innovation as awards chairman was Blake Podhajsky, center, a producer for the Outdoor Oklahoma TV show. Pictured are Don P. Brown, magazine associate editor; Kelly Adams I/E specialist; Darrin Hill, TV producer; and Information Supervisor Micah Holmes. 4 Off the Beaten Path