SOUTH CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE

Mankato High School Artists Receive Scholarships in State “Water is Life” Art Contest

Laura Marti from Loyola Catholic School and Christine White from Mankato East High School in Mankato earned scholarships at the state “Water is Life” Art Contest sponsored by the Freshwater Society on May 7 at the Gray Freshwater Center in Excelsior.

Marti and White were two of five scholarship winners chosen from 24 semi-finalists from around the state who artfully expressed the theme “Water is Life.” Semi-finalists were chosen at regional events held in April by participating service cooperatives. The Freshwater Society gave scholarships totaling $3,500 at the evening’s reception. A keynote address was given by naturalist Jim Gilbert from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Entries focused on the theme “Water is Life” through conservation, degradation and contamination, and futuristic resourcefulness. Art media included sculpture and flat surface art. All semi-finalists were recognized for their participation in the event with a certificate of participation, a trophy, and a small scholarship. The semifinalists and their entries were introduced, followed by a reading of the artist’s statement.

The $1,000 scholarship recipients:

• Laura Marti, Loyola Catholic School (Dale Compton, Art Instructor)
• Hunter Bodene-Yost, Watershed High School (Maggie Rozycki, Art Instructor)

Because of the exceptional quality of submissions, there was a tie for the third scholarship. To honor all three artists, the society gave three $500 scholarships:

• Christine White, Mankato East High School (Laura Browender, Art Instructor)
• Stephanie Erlandson, Henning High School (Terry Oscarson, Art Instructor)
• Julia Iverson, Kasson-Mantorville Schools (Marilyn Frederickson, Art Instructor)
  

Congratulations are also extended to the other south central semi-finalists, Bradley Johnson from Le Sueur-Henderson High School and Hannah Miller from Maple River High School, who were chosen from a pool of 26 art pieces representing 10 area schools at the April 16 regional competition hosted by the Carnegie Art Center in Mankato.

Last year’s contest produced amazing artwork that was recently displayed in the North Corridor at the State Capitol and will be displayed at other events in the Metro area. The “Water is Life” Art Contest has been recognized by Governor Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

This year the Freshwater Society has also invited a school from Bomalang’omb, a small village in south central region of Iringa in the African country of Tanzania, to create artwork for the 2008 contest. Their village now has an operating well for the first time, with the assistance of Saint Paul Partners. Their artwork brought an international perspective to the theme “Water is Life.”

Educating citizens about the importance of freshwater resources has been the primary activity of the Society since its inception in 1968. The Society recognizes that art is a valuable tool to convey important messages and encourages senior high artists to communicate the significance, value, and beauty of water through their artwork.

For more information on this contest and how your school can participate next year, please visit www.mnscsc.org, www.freshwater.org, or contact Joyce Swenson at 507-389-2461, jswenson@mnscsc.org, or Jeanne Prok at 952-472-3540, Jeanne@freshwater.org.