Local students take honors in state contest

Five area students were selected as state-level winners in the 2003 New Jersey Conservation essay and poster con­tests. The theme of the contests was "Food for the Future in the Garden State."

Each of the five students was a first-place win­ner in the Freehold Soil Conservation District local level contests whose entries were submitted for the statewide competi­tion.

In the poster contest, Matthew Tully, Freehold Township, was a first-place win­ner in the grades 2-3 division.

He received a $200 savings bond. Cassie Hsu, Freehold Township, was a second-place winner in the grades 4-6 division and she received a $100 bond. Allen Lin, Holmdel, placed first in the grades 7-9 division and earned a $200 bond. In the grades 10-12 division, Grace Liu, Holmdel, won first place and received a $200 bond.

Each of the first-place posters will be submitted for the national competition.

The teacher of each first-place winner re­ceived a $100 stipend to purchase conser­vation-related material for their classroom.

In the essay contest, Jacqueline Chiou, Holmdel, placed third in the grades 4-6 division and received a $50 savings bond.

At the awards ceremony, held May 19 at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, the winners and their families were treated to a guided tour of the Statehouse and a planetarium laser show. The New Jersey Association of Conser­vation Districts sponsored both contests in cooperation with the New Jersey Conser­vation Partnership.