School’s nature photography contest winners announced
The Sanibel School’s nature photography contest for middle-schoolers concluded with an awards ceremony and reception on Dec. 7.
The annual event is a partnership program of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Bank of the Islands, which provides medals, cash prizes and exhibition space for the contest. The partnership also extends to the Cypress Lake Middle School and Edison National Bank in Fort Myers.
Prior to the ceremony, the students visited the refuge with their photography teacher, Dr. Terrie Kielborn. The lessons continued back in the classroom, where Kielborn then taught the students how to enhance their photography using computer software and to name the finished pieces creatively.
Ranger Monica Scroggin emceed the event to showcase all the students’ artwork at the Visitor and Education Center. Bank of the Islands Vice Presidents Willy Ocasio and Rob Lisenbee presented award medals and $100, $75 and $50 cashier’s checks, respectively, to the top three youth photographers.
The honors went to:
– First place: Amanda Cohen, eighth grade, for “Sunny Side Up”
– Second place: Jessika Laborde, seventh grade, for “Catching a Morning Snack”
– Third place: Lydia Whalen, seventh grade, for “Wasps of the Death Star”
“We love sponsoring this contest and are always amazed at the quality of the photos,” Ocasio said. “We invite all islanders to see them displayed in our Sanibel bank lobby in the New Year.”
Beginning Jan. 2, the bank will host the exhibit in its Sanibel lobby, at 1699 Periwinkle Way.
Every student participating in the contest will receive a $1 U.S. Mint gold coin from the Bank of the Islands Bank when they visit the photo display. Freshly baked cookies are available to the public.