Placitas Student Wins NM Arbor Day Poster Contest

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - New Mexico State Forester Arthur “Butch” Blazer has announced that Josey Espinoza, a fifth grade student from Placitas Elementary School is the winner of the 2010 New Mexico Arbor Day Poster Contest.

“I’m really pleased that we received entries from all over the state and that the kids took a lot of time and care in creating their artwork,” said Blazer. “An important part of observing Arbor Day is teaching our children about the importance of trees and how they benefit our lives.”

Josey’s winning poster was selected by visitors to the Keep New Mexico Booth at the recent 15th Annual Xeriscape Expo in the Manuel Lujan Building at Expo New Mexico, and is now entered into the national contest, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation. 13 entries received a total of 266 votes.

Josey will receive a $100 savings bond from Keep New Mexico Beautiful and a tree will be planted in her honor at Placitas Elementary School, courtesy of Tree New Mexico. Additionally, $100 in tree related books will be donated to the Placitas Elementary School library.

Pema Dema from Alvord Magnet School in Santa Fe and Andrew Pineda from Montessori Elementary School In Albuquerque took second and third place respectively in the statewide contest, sponsored by New Mexico State Forestry, PNM, Keep New Mexico Beautiful and Tree New Mexico. They will each receive $50 savings bonds and their schools will receive $75 in tree related books.

The theme, “Trees are Terrific, and Energy Wise” was chosen to help students better understand how trees can be used to cut down on energy costs and help the environment.

The annual poster competition is open to all fifth-grade students in New Mexico. Lesson plans are also available to educators to use in the classroom. These activities help increase students’ knowledge of how trees grow and the environmental benefits trees provide every day.

Additional information is available at www.arborday.org/kids/postercontest