Chattanooga Girl Wins Best of Show for 2011 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Nashville, TN – Joanna Rush, of Chattanooga is the Best of Show winner in the 2011 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp art contest. She was recognized as this year’s winner at an awards’ ceremony held at Bass Pro Shops.

Joanna, who recently turned 15, is a sophomore home school student. She titled her winning artwork “Let’s Get Together,” depicting a male and female cinnamon teal in acrylic, colored pencil, and water color.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency serves as a partner in the contest, which is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Don King, TWRA’s Chief of Information and Education, was among the speakers prior to the presentation of the awards.

There were a total of 606 entries representing 24 schools and 10 home schools from across the state entered in Tennessee’s 17th Junior Duck Stamp Contest in four different age group categories.  There were 11 other finalists for the Best of Show as a result of their first place award. Three first place winners were awarded for each division.

In addition to TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and Bass Pro Shops work as partners in the event. Judges were Holly Gaboriault (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), Chris Cole (Ducks Unlimited) Phillip Crowe (professional wildlife artist), Tim White (TWRA), Eric Pelren (UT Martin), and Al Buckley (Tennessee Wildlife Federation).

Joanna’s winning artwork will appear on the Tennessee waterfowl stamp which will be available early next year. Proceeds from the stamp’s sales go to benefit the waterfowl program.

The state winner also advances to the national competition. The winner of the national competition will be used as the design for the 2011-12 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. Her artwork will travel throughout the country on display in galleries and wildlife museums for one year.

The 36 first, second and third place Tennessee winners will also be on display at locations around the state throughout the following year. For more information about this program, display locations or to purchase a Federal Junior Duck Stamp, see the refuge website at www.fws.gov/TennesseeRefuge, or call the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge at 731-642-2091.

The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is an educational program designed to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. Using scientific and wildlife observation principles, the program helps students communicate visually what they have learned by creating an entry for the Junior Duck Stamp art contest. This non-traditional pairing of subjects brings new interest to both science and the arts. It crosses cultural, ethnic, social and geographic boundaries to teach greater awareness of our nation’s natural resources. The Junior Duck Stamp Program is based on the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

2011 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp Winners

Best of Show:

• Joanna Rush, Soph., Chattanooga
  Art teacher – Karen Barton, Agape Art Academy

Kindergarten –Third Grade:

1st Place

• Rachel Skillman (Chattanooga) 
• Bailey Roberts (Tullahoma)
• Olivia Morgan (Tullahoma)                  

Fourth-Sixth Grade:

1st Place

• Kaylyn Craig (Rossville)                   
• McKenzie Covrig (Georgetown)
• Chelsea Smith (Dyersburg)

Seventh-Ninth Grade:

1st Place

• Kelsey Skillman (Chattanooga)                   
• Jet Smith (Ooltewah)
• Catelyn Alvezios (LaFollete)

10th-12th grade:

1st Place

• Joanna Rush (Chattanooga)
• Olivia Hughes (Jackson)
• Staci Hunter (Cookeville)