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** Archived Article - please check for current information. **

March 6, 2014

Reel Art contest winners announced

A student from Charleston recently took top honors as the overall winner in South Carolina's 2014 Reel Art contest, a competition held annually by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources sponsored by Sportfish Restoration Funds and the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.

Entries were judged in Columbia at S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) headquarters on February 7th. Replicas of the winning artwork was exhibited at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in February 14-16 at Marion Square in Charleston and soon at the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic March 28-30 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia. Ethan Lopez from Charleston County School of the Arts received State Best of Show and a first-place award in the Grades 7-9 category for her colored pencil depiction of a shortnose sturgeon, a federally endangered species, which was titled simply "Lonely Among Us."Reel Art 2014

Contact Lorianne Riggin, DNR aquatic education coordinator, for more information on the annual contest at aquaticed@dnr.sc.gov.

Students from across the state submitted 1254 entries to the South Carolina Reel Art competition for 2014, the most ever received. Awards were given in each of four class groups (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12), including one overall winner, a first place, second place, third place and five honorable mention ribbons for each class group. The overall winner is selected from among the four first-place winners representing all four groups.

The best of show winner's art teacher is Ben Moore of the Charleston County School of the Arts. Ethan will be awarded art supplies and a ticket to see his artwork on display at the Palmetto Sportsman's Classic. Everyone who enters gets a certificate and art supplies.

Riggin says the Reel Art contest is a conservation education program designed to give students in grades K-12 a chance to learn about the diverse aquatic animals and aquatic habitats that exist in South Carolina, while creating some extraordinary pieces of art.

Top placing entries in the Reel Art contest were:

Category Place Names School Teacher
K-3 1st – Justin Whitfield, Pendleton Elementary, Steve Johnson
K-3 2nd – Reilly McManus, Michael’s Masterpieces, Michael Hodge
K-3 3rd – Gabriel Ward, Michael’s Masterpieces, Michael Hodge
K-3 HM – Lily Chacon, Campobello Gramling School, Anna Hodge
K-3 HM – Hyojin Choi, Lexington Elementary School, Marianne Johnson
K-3 HM – Kaylee Henderson, Waccamaw Elementary School, Mandy Pate
K-3 HM – Devon Hogan, Holly Springs Elementary School, Alston Beckman
K-3 HM – Leonna Williams, Lexington Elementary School, Marianne Johnson
4th-6th 1st – Samantha Castiller, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
4th-6th 2nd – Ben Massar, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
4th-6th 3rd – Alexa D’Angelo, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
4th-6th HM – Marissa Coll, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
4th-6th HM – Tydarius Merriweather, Pendleton Elementary, Steve Johnson
4th-6th HM – Brielle Suttles, Pickens Middle School, Annette Black
4th-6th HM – Sharlie Walker, Glenview Middle School, Stephanie Raspet
4th-6th HM – Olivia Wingo, The Cooper School, Caitlyn Bunson
7th-9th 1st & Best of Show – Ethan Lopez, Charleston School of the Arts, Ben Moore
7th-9th 2nd – Tyler Horton, Charleston School of the Arts, Ben Moore
7th-9th 3rd – Virginia Swafford, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
7th-9th Chief's Choice - Samantha Bost, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
7th-9th HM – Caleb Jackson, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
7th-9th HM – Gabrielle Oudemool, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
7th-9th HM – Emily Rapach, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
7th-9th HM – Joseph Sabados, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
7th-9th HM – Ana White, Thomas Cario Middle School, Stefani Timmerman
10th-12th 1st - Alexcia Williams, Calhoun County High School, Tiffany Spencer
10th-12th 2nd – Tyler Pough, Saluda High School, Wayne Bell
10th-12th 3rd – Carmen de San Juan, Waccamaw High School, Levon Matthews
10th-12th HM – Jackeem Armstrong, Waccamaw High School, Levon Matthews
10th-12th HM – Katharine Dumont, Saluda High School, Wayne Bell
10th-12th HM – Madeline Frank, Waccamaw High School, Levon Matthews
10th-12th HM – Joshua Godfrey, Strom Thurmond High School, Beth Clark
10th-12th HM – Ashley Toole, Strom Thurmond High School, Beth Clark


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