Local students made a big impact at the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest.

Mrs. Virginia Hicks and Mrs. Sherri Butler, art teachers at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School, are delighted to announce that several of their art students placed in the W.Va. Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest 2019. The winning art and conservation message entries from West Virginia were selected on Friday, March 29. 

Entries from students in grades K-12 were judged at the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Williamstown, W.Va., to determine which would represent the state in the national contest.

Five judges with expertise in wildlife biology and art evaluated the 238 artworks received on the basis of design, anatomical accuracy, artistic composition, and suitability for reproduction on a stamp.  Entries featured a waterfowl species in its habitat demonstrating natural behavior.  The species were selected from a list of eligible species on the official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. 

The winning students will be receiving art supplies, ribbons, certificates and an example of a Federal Duck Stamp.

Interested classrooms, art studio, or community youth groups can learn more about the program by contacting State Coordinator Autumn Starcher by e-mail at autumn.starcher@mail.wvu.edu

Students from B-U Middle School were placed in Group II (Grades 4-6).

Students earning First Place: Isaac Mullens

Students earning Second Place: Michael Arbogast, Sophie Kelley, Brooklyn Smith

Students earning Third Place: Ciera Huffman, Kaiden Marks

Students earning Honorable Mention:Colin Bailey, Hailie Hess, Cora Lipps, Evan McDowell, Gabrielle Mullins, Scott Rice, Summer Simons, Kiona Smith, Walker Smith, Charlotte Squires