Posted: Thu, 13 May 2010 12:49 PM - 10,169 Readers

By: Lone-Star Outdoor News

Officials at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center recently selected winners in the Texas division of the 2010 Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest. First, second and third-place winners and honorable mentions were awarded in three grade-level divisions: four through six, seven through nine and 10 through 12.

The 2010 winners for grades four through six were, in first place, Nasa Xu, Cinco Ranch Junior High, Katy; second place, Michelle Cho, Nolan Middle School, Killeen; third place, Cain Schoenfeld, Cuero Intermediate School, Cuero.

Honorable mentions in grades four through six went to Jousha Torres, Columbus Junior High-Riverside Campus, Columbus; Dakota Miller, Mildred Elementary, Corsicana; Austin Neill, Athens Intermediate School, Athens; Kaylee Chadwick, Cornerstone Christian School, San Angelo; Hannah Wells, Cornerstone Christian School, San Angelo; Kara Langford, Criswell Elementary School, Forney; Alyssa Searcy, Grandview Junior High, Grandview.

Winners for grades seven through nine were, in first place, Brady King, homeschool, Livingston; second place, Callie Clayton, Highland Park High School, Dallas; third place, John Herndon, Liberty High School, Liberty.

Honorable mentions for grades seven through nine were awarded to Leena Gonzalez, Vanguard Academy Charter School, Pharr; Jocelyn Cantu, Vanguard Academy Charter School, Pharr; Jordan Suarez, Vanguard Academy Charter School, Pharr; Ruvi Villareal, Vanguard Academy Charter School, Pharr; Skye Koehl, Columbus Junior High-Riverside Campus, Columbus; Joseph Wilson, Little Cypress Junior High, Orange; Tyler Freeman, Little Cypress Junior High, Orange.

For grades 10 through 12, the winners were, in first place, Anh Thu Do, Liberty High School, Liberty; second place, Meagan Bishop, Highland Park High School, Dallas; third place, Bonnie Leung, Lake Travis High School, Austin.

Honorable mentions in grades 10 through 12 went to Stacey Spitz, Robert E. Lee High School, Tyler; Callie Hudson, Phoenix Charter School, Greenville; Lorenzo Leyva, Del Rio High School, Del Rio; Reina Chen, Plano West Senior High, Plano; Hailey Sowden, Highland Park High School, Dallas; Ana Hernandez, Presidio High School, Presidio; Austin Linkinhoker, Cedar Park.

Winners in each division receive cash prizes: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place in the 10–12 division. Prizes in the four through six and seven through nine grade levels are $100 for first, $75 for second and $50 for third. First-place winners also receive a travel allowance for themselves and their family to attend the national contest and exposition, the State-Fish Art Expo, which will take place at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens July 16-17. The Toyota Texas Bass Classic funds the cash prizes.

Fish Art Expo will be held July 17 and will feature fishing, instructional seminars and demonstrations and a display of all the state and national contest winners. Plans are being made for a daylong schedule of events with food booths and outdoor activities and displays that the public can enjoy in addition to viewing the artwork and voting for the People’s Choice Award. The public can also vote for the People’s Choice Award at www.wildlifeforever.org.

Public admission to the expo and related activities will be included with paid admission to TFFC.

One outstanding piece of artwork each year is selected for the Art of Conservation Award, and a commemorative stamp featuring the artwork is produced for sale. Proceeds from sales of the stamp are used to fund conservation projects. The 2010 winner will be unveiled at the expo.

The expo will include an outdoor fair with food and activities. Artists will demonstrate their craft, and some will have their artwork available for purchase.

Texas State Artist Sam Caldwell will display and sell his work and will also create an original watercolor with student assistance during the day. Sculptor Terry Jones of Jewett will display and sell examples of metal sculptures recycled from used objects. Jones’s work has been displayed at the Texas State Fair and is widely collected. Jamie Williams of Meaningful Memories Photography will demonstrate outdoor photography. Potter Brenda Hennesey will demonstrate how to throw pots and let kids get their hands dirty. Members of the Henderson County Art Club will display their work and demonstrate techniques.