River of Words - 2008

Each year, in affiliation with River of Words, the Sacramento River Watershed Program conducts a free poetry and art contest for youth on the theme of watersheds. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live, and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover.

By deepening children’s understanding of nature through art and words, “we’re trying to grow a generation of earth stewards,” said Pamela Michael, the executive director of River of Words. “If you give children a chance to make a connection to the place they live in and the natural world, then their behaviors are nurturing and appropriate… and creativity generates art and solutions to real problems.”

River of Words, a non-profit organization based out of Berkeley, CA, sponsors the annual international contest. The Sacramento River Watershed Program partners with River of Words and conducts a local contest for entries received within the Sacramento River Watershed and Delta. This year, artwork and poetry submissions were judged by Sacramento River Watershed Program staff and Board of Trustees. The Sacramento River Watershed Program received over 300 poems and 300 works of art this year and chose a grand prize and finalist for each of the four categories. All winners receive gift certificates and other prizes. Winning artwork and poetry will also be showcased at the Sacramento River Watershed Program’s annual stakeholder meeting this fall.

Thanks to all of the kids for their entries and congratulations to the following winners!

Click on the artwork to see a large image.

Art Winners

1st Place

Grades K - 2		Grades 3-6		Grades 7-9		Grades 10-12
*Turtle on a Log* Jackson Long Age 7, Grade 2 Maple Creek Elementary School Fresno, CA		The Waterfall Jose Guzman Age 10, Grade 5 Madison Elementary Stockton, CA		Blurred Reflections Michelle Chung Age 14, Grade 9 Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, CA		Friendly Amphibian Crystal Perreira Age 16, Grade 11 San Benito High School Hollister, CA

2nd Place

Grades K - 2		Grades 3-6		Grades 7-9		Grades 10-12
Great Blue Heron Hazel Guzman Age 7, Grade 2 Linscott Charter Watsonville, CA		Great Blue Heron Dakota Farbor Age 11, Grade 5 Linscott Charter Watsonville, CA		Flowing Cory Tenanes Age 15, Grade 9 Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, CA		I am a River of Words Kimberly Noble Age 17, Grade 11 Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, CA

Honorable Mention

Grades K - 2		Grades 3-6		Grades 7-9		Grades 10-12
Salmon Family Nonna Simmons Age 7, Grade 2 Klamath River, CA				Big Fish in a Little Pond Alex Kershner Age 14, Grade 9 Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, CA

Raccoon in Trash Martin Cassidy Age 8, Grade 2 Linscott Charter Watsonville, CA				Masterpiece! Lorraine Ibay Age 12, Grade 7 Dallas Ranch Middle School Antioch, CA

Poetry Winners

1st Place

Grades K - 2		Grades 3-6		Grades 7-9		Grades 10-12
Sun, Moon, and Wind Tiffany T. Liu Age 8, Grade 2 Jensen Ranch Elementary Castro Valley, CA [View poem]		The River Patrick Tehaney Age 11, Grade 6 Marina Village Middle School El Dorado Hills, CA [View poem]		Staircases of Sand Alexandra Dyssegard Age 13, Grade 8 Marina Village Middle School El Dorado Hills, CA [View poem]

2nd Place

Grades K - 2		Grades 3-6		Grades 7-9		Grades 10-12
Adair Arreola Age 8, Grade 2 Gault Elementary Santa Cruz, CA [View poem]		*A Change* Anna Ayala Age 10, Grade 5 Pony Express Elementary Sacramento, CA [View poem]		The Oak Stefan Nilsen Age: 12 Grade: 7 Avery Middle School Avery, CA [View poem]

Honorable Mention

Grades K - 2		Grades 3-6		Grades 7-9		Grades 10-12
		The Calm River Ryan Wilbanks Age 10, Grade 5 Prestwood Elementary Sonoma, CA [View poem]		Guardians of the Forest Katie Harrison Age 14, Grade 8 Avery Middle School Avery, CA [View poem]