Ocean Pals 2004

THE FUTURE IS IN OUR STUDENTS!

Since 1991 FSDA-WCC has reached out to Florida’s students. We accepted the invitation to join Beneath The Sea's Ocean Pals™ National Poster Contest and have directed and helped sponsor the Southeastern Region’s contest. This contest is a national environmental education-through-art program. Awareness is urgent! The students are encouraged to expand their knowledge by researching the environment concern for the marine environment with a different yearly theme and to express this in their poster art. The winners of each of the different regions are then entered in the national contest. Their messages are then brought to the widest possible audience to create a stronger commitment to protect the environment on which all life on this planet depends. Click here to visit the Ocean Pals Website

The Florida Regional Ocean Pal's Poster Contest Winners won 9 places of 16 in the 2003-2004 National Contest. Below are the national winning posters. We have four contests in both the FL Regional and the National Contests and the students are divided into four age groups so the younger students do not compete against the older students: 9th Grade - 12th Grade, 6th Grade - 8th Grade, 3rd Grade - 5th Grade, and Kindergarten - 2nd Grade.

The 1st place senior high student, Jack Reedy from Ocala, was chosen for the Grand Cayman national prize. This is an 8 day, 7 night vacation to the Cayman Islands courtesy of Villas of the Galleon, a luxury condominium located on Grand Cayman's famous 7 mile beach. The resort stay is for up to two (2) adults and two (2) children. Also included, courtesy of Cayman Airways are two (2) round trip, non-stop tickets from Miami, FL to Grand Cayman for two (2) adults. Jack will also receive a 1st place $100 savings bond (regional prize), a Robert L. Straight special medal and certificates. Shannon Mathews, first place in the 3-5th grade will receive a $200 savings bond (national) and a 1st place $100 savings bond (regional) as well as the special medal and certificates.

The teachers of the two national first place students Nina Lovil and Dianna Bramhall will each receive a 4 day, 3 night vacation (land only) courtesy of Wyndham Sunshine Suits on Grand Cayman.

The other prizes are savings bonds: 1st place $100 (regional), 2nd place $100 (national) and $75 (regional), 3rd place $75 (national) and $50 (regional). Honorable Mention will receive a selected prize (national) and a $25 gift certificate from a book store (regional.) We also recognize regional students who's posters were quite good placing 5th and 6th with a $10 gift certificate (new this year courtesy of the Reef Rowdies) and special certificates. Congratulations to All

Kindergarten - 2 2nd National 1st Regional Crista Cummings Long Leaf Elementary Melbourne, FL	Kindergarten - 2 3rd National 3rd Regional Jessica Bui San Jose Elementary Jacksonville, FL	3rd – 5th 1st National 1st Regional Shannon Mathews Plantation Park Elementary Plantation, FL
3rd – 5th 2nd National 2nd Regional Chelsea Hill Lost Lake Elementary Clermont, FL	3rd – 5th 3rd National 3rd Regional Ashley Whiting Sabal Elementary Melbourne, FL	6th – 8th 2nd National 1st. Regional Adriane Hill Windy Hill Middle Clermont, FL
6th – 8th 3rd National 3rd Regional Chad Robin Gulf Breeze Middle Gulf Breeze, FL	9th – 12th 1st National 1st Regional Jack Reedy West Port High Ocala, FL	9th – 12th 2nd National 2nd Regional Alfonso Garcia Seminole Middle Plantation, FL