(Richland PIO) – Sixteen students from eight local schools will take home awards in this year’s Youth Conservation Poster Contest, sponsored by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD).

Student posters addressed the topic “Home Is Where the Habitat Is,” highlighting the importance of native habitats in sustaining biodiversity, protecting natural resources, and supporting a healthy environment. A habitat, considered the unique environment where an organism lives, can range from babbling brooks to towering forests.

This year’s contest winners are:

Kindergarten-First Grade:

• First place: Axel Hernandez Guzman, first grade, Arden Elementary
• Second place: Ximena Velasquez Hernandez, first grade, Arden Elementary
• Third place: Kenya Gaillard, first grade, Living Springs Child Development Center
• Honorable mention: Roslyn Patterson, first grade, Arden Elementary

Second-Third Grades:

• First place: Lola Knight, third grade, Arden Elementary
• Second place: Laylen Ware, third grade, Arden Elementary
• Third place: Kalyn Carter, second grade, Edward E. Taylor Elementary
• Honorable mention: Ethan Johnson, second grade, Arden Elementary

Fourth-Sixth Grades:

• First place: Gabriella Banks, sixth grade, Hand Middle School
• Second place: Aurelia Dueckmann, fourth grade, Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School
• Third place: Yenna Yun, fourth grade, Brockman Elementary School
• Honorable mention: Kelsee Jackson, sixth grade, Hand Middle School

Seventh-Ninth Grades:

• First place: Silas Baldwin, ninth grade, A.C. Flora High School
• Second place: Samantha Williams, eighth grade, Longleaf Middle School
• Third place: Reign Moody, seventh grade, Longleaf Middle School
• Honorable mention: Paige Kelly, eighth grade, Longleaf Middle School

“The Conservation Poster Contest is essential for students, as it helps them understand the value of our natural resources and the critical role they play in sustaining life on Earth,” said Jashandeep kaur Sidhu, a sixth-grade science teacher at Hand Middle School. “By educating young minds about the importance of protecting these resources, we equip them with the knowledge to recognize the threats they face, such as pollution, deforestation and climate change.”

Winners will receive cash prizes, and four entries will progress to the state competition sponsored by the S.C. Association of Conservation Districts. Seventy-eight students from eight schools participated in this year’s contest.

“The Conservation Poster Contest is an important teaching tool for students, as it gives a creative way to learn best practices about our environment and the importance of conservation,” said Mary Burts, RSWCD commissioner. “Each year, teachers look for ways to engage students in their lessons. This hands-on activity allows students to create and learn, with the bonus of being recognized for their work.”

The Youth Conservation Poster Contest is an annual education program hosted by the RSWCD with support from the state and national associations of conservation districts.