Participation in State-Fish Art Contest Skyrockets with TFFC Sponsorship

Media Contact: Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, (903) 670-2238, icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, (903) 670-2238, zoeann.stinchcomb@tpwd.texas.gov

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ATHENS, Texas — Last year Lulu Fang of McAllen submitted the winning illustration and composition about the Texas state fish, the Guadalupe bass, in the grades 10-12 category of the State-Fish Art Contest.

On April 22 Fang learned that she had won again–but this time she had a lot more competition. After the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center became the state sponsor of the contest, participation increased more than 10-fold.

“We worked to get the word out to teachers through press releases, flyers and e-mails,” said Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, education team leader at TFFC. “This contest is an excellent way to involve students in grades 4 through 12 in art and science.”

Three winners are chosen–one for grades 4 through 6, one for grades 7 through 9 and one for grades 10 through 12. The winner for grades 4 through 6 was Anna McCaleb of Bulverde. Aleena Rogers of Midlothian was the winner for grades 7 through 9.

The contest is sponsored by Wildlife Forever, Rapala, The Art Institutes International Minnesota, Mall of America, the Minnesota Twins, the North American Fishing Club and Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff.

Contest winners from all the states are invited to attend the State-Fish Art Expo July 29-30 at Mall of America in Minneapolis and will receive free entry to the July 30 Minnesota Twins game against the Detroit Tigers, where they will be honored at a pre-game ceremony.

Also at the July expo, the top three pieces of artwork in each grade category will receive “Best of Show” honors, and one will win the “Art of Conservation Stamp” Award and be reproduced as the 2006 State-Fish Art Conservation Stamp. Proceeds from sales of the stamp will be used to fund conservation education and aquatic restoration projects across America.

“The State-Fish Art Contest is a perfect fit for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center,” said Allen Forshage, TFFC director. “This contest celebrates Texas’s youth, aquatic resources and rich fishing tradition.”

“We are pleased to partner with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in using art to educate a new generation of conservationists,” said Douglas H. Gramm, president and CEO of Wildlife Forever.

Located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Wildlife Forever is a non-profit multi-species conservation organization dedicated to conserving America’s wildlife heritage. Wildlife Forever has funded millions of dollars of conservation projects in all 50 states. For information on the organization and the contest, visit http://www.wildlifeforever.org/ and click on “State-Fish Art Contest” in the dropdown menu under “Programs.”