Students recognized as Arbor Day contest winners

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[May 18, 2010]  Monday evening Tracy Jackson, head of Lincoln's forestry department, introduced this year's winners of the Arbor Day coloring contest.

Pictured at left is third-place winner Samantha Howard, a second-grade student at Washington-Monroe School. Samantha is the daughter of Brandi Carter.

On the right is second-place winner Gwen VanSlambrouck, a second-grade student at Adams School. Gwen is the daughter of Hannah VanSlambrouck.

The first-place winner, Taylor Harding, is in the center. Taylor is a second-grade student from Washington-Monroe School. Her parents are firefighter Chris Harding and his wife, Katie.

The girls are pictured above showing their winning artwork to the council. All three girls received goodie bags packed full of gifts from area businesses. In addition, the first-place winner was awarded an MP3 player.

Besides recognizing these three students, Mayor Keith Snyder handed out the news release below from the Arbor Day Foundation, naming Lincoln a Tree City for the ninth consecutive year.

[By NILA SMITH]

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Arbor Day Foundation honors Lincoln with Tree City USA recognition, Growth Award

Lincoln, Ill., was recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry.

It is the ninth year Lincoln has earned this national recognition.

Lincoln also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program in the following activity areas:

• Education and public relations literature distribution

• Publicity

• Youth education

• Partnerships

• Green industry partnership

• Planning and management of wildlife habitat

• Tree planting and maintenance

• Special tree planting project

The prestigious Growth Award honors environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA communities.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

Lincoln has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Communities that are honored with a Tree City USA designation and a Growth Award make a strong commitment to planting and caring for trees, and we applaud their efforts," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. "We also commend a community's elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing needed care for its trees. They recognize that trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits for the community every day."

More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

About the Arbor Day Foundation:

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental and education organization of nearly 1 million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.

[Text from the Arbor Day Foundation]