Ingomar Garden Club fêtes 7 local winners of national essay, poetry, poster contest

The Ingomar Garden Club recently honored seven local students who were this year’s winners in an essay, poetry and poster competition sponsored by the National Garden Club.

The Aug. 4 celebration at St. Thomas Anglican Church in the Fields in Richland was an opportunity for the winners to show off their work and claim their prizes.

“We’re here to honor the students who have placed at the local, state, regional and national level for the youth contest,” said Christine Hawthorne, the club’s conservation/youth chair. “I’d also like thank the parents, families, principals and teachers who have encouraged our student winners to participate our youth contest.”

Topping the list of winners was Liam Ellis, a sophomore at Aquinas Academy who took first place nationally for his essay “Taking Action to Protect Pollinator Habitat.” Before entering the nationals, Ellis’ essay was the local, regional and state winner.

He received a $1,000 college scholarship as well as a $100 cash prize for the state competition and $25 from the garden club.

Ellis’ essay listed and then elaborated on steps everyone can take to stem the declining numbers of pollinators and the increasing loss to the ecosystem.

These included choosing native, pollinator-benefiting plants for gardens; eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides; and educating all on ways to address the environmental problems the world faces.

Hawthorne said Ellis’s national win was a first for the garden club.

“They only had one student who wanted to do the essay,” she said. “That student went on to win the state, regional and national competition, which is the first time that’s happened for our club. One never knows were planting the seeds is going to lead you.”

The other contest winners are:

• Sorcha O’Sullivan, Grade 4, Saint Kilian School: National, regional, state and local 1st place winner, $50 national award, $10 state award, $25 award from Ingomar Garden Club. Sorcha’s poster entry was selected from among 7,000 entries in the grade 4 category.

Poster: “Woodsy Owl - Lend A Hand, Care For The Land”

• Valarie Begis, Grade 6, St. Kilian School: First place local and state winner, $10 state award.

Poetry: “Exploring Backyard Mysteries”

• Amelia Collins, Grade 8, St. Kilian School: First place local and state winner, $10 state award.

Poetry: “Exploring Backyard Mysteries”

• Anna Jones, Grade 5, St. Kilian School: First place local and state winner, $10 state award.

Poster: “Woodsy Owl - Lend A Hand, Care For The Land”

• Quinn Snyder, Grade 2, St. Kilian School: First place local and state winner, $10 state award.

Poster: “Woodsy Owl - Lend A Hand, Care For The Land”

• Samantha Steel, Grade 3, Deer Lakes School District: First place local and state winner, $10 state award.

Poetry: “Exploring Backyard Mysteries”