MIDCOAST — Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District has announced the winners of its annual conservation poster contest. This program is part of the National Association of Conservation Districts' contest, which each year sets a national stewardship theme.

Rebecca Jacobs, KLSWCD education coordinator, presented a lesson on this year's theme, Local Heroes: Your Hardworking Pollinators, to more than 585 K - sixth grade students in 10 schools throughout Knox and Lincoln counties.

This year's judges — Jean Vose from the Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers; Liz Stanley, horticulture community education assistant at University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Holly Edwards, local beekeeper; and Sharon Chadwick, KLSWCD supervisor — evaluated 500 posters on content, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal to select the winners.

The following three grade-level winners will be entered into the state competition. Each of these students received a $25 gift certificate to use at the Knox-Lincoln SWCD Plant Sale on May 2 and 3 at Union Fairgrounds:

Grades 4-6: Lilly Curtis (5th), Hope Elementary

Grades 2-3: Jordynn Pierce (3rd), South School

Grades K-1: Henry Ackor (1st), Gilford Butler

The judges also selected a winner from every classroom that submitted entries:

Appleton Village: Rowan Stewart (1st), Lydia Gurney (2nd)

Gilford Butler: Maddox Lowell (K), Jame Mercer (2nd), Walker Hedrich (2nd)

Great Salt Bay: Vivian Burns (2nd)

Hope Elementary: Maddy Tohanczyn (2nd), Sierra Laukka (3rd), Alma Bournival (5th)

Lura Libby: Jason LeClerc (4th), Ella Russomano (4th)

Prescott Memorial: Kalina Chazin-Knox (6th)

South School: Michael Robinson (3rd), Savannah Petter (3rd), Kelsey Guinn (4th)

Union Elementary: Abigail Lima (K), Jack Martin (2nd), Braelyn Hood (3rd), Aleah Sebrey (4th), Chloe Fillion (6th), Lily Cook (6th)

Honorable mentions were awarded to: Addison Lea, Addison Lincoln, Autumn Dinsmore, Hannah Marsden, Aaliyah TenBroeck, Faith Kirkham, Claudia Feeley, Josh Blake, Kara Pease, Abby Grant, Sarah Williams, Addison McCormick, Logan Cook, Skylar Hills, Aiden Abbotoni, Finnegan Calderwood,

Mia Flagg, Ryan Lea, Samantha Dunkle, Aliza Gamage, Leona Dec, Brianna Elwell, Asia Libby, Emily Oakes, Maysie Lowe, Abby Young, Ashleigh Cronin, Bella Stasulis, Olivia Pelkey, Hope Mason, Rose Tohanczyn, Natalie Hall, Keagan Dodge, Keel Cooper, Zoe Curtis, Kailin Fuller, Sophia Ryan, Mila Bonometti,

Anna Jordan, Molly Blemaster, Chloe Root, Mary Hastings, Morgan Lowe, Mariana Janik, Harper Lilly, Eli Melanson, Tanner Peaslee, Emma Ulrich, Bailey Breen, Victoria Edwards, Isabelle Tyler, Maggie Gregory, Kara Kinney, Colby Bennett, Natashia Waters, Nolan McLennan, Abigail Butler, Zoe Davis, Lydia Ostrander, Kylian Babik, Arthur Andrews, Isabella Anderson

Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District congratulates all of the winners and commends all of the students for their efforts, according to a news release.

For the complete list of winners and a slide show of winning posters, visit www.knox-lincoln.org/k-6-poster-contest/.

For more information about this and other District programs, contact Rebecca Jacobs at rebecca@knox-lincoln.org or (207) 596-2040.

Knox-Lincoln SWCD is an equal opportunity employer and provider.