The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Mississippi Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. The annual contest, which is open to students in grades K -12 from across the state, encourages young artists to express their knowledge of conservation, wetlands, and waterfowl while creating beautiful works of art.
Chance Bertelsen, 18, of Natchez, was named “Best of Show” for their acrylic painting of a male Ruddy duck, titled “Robby the Ruddy Duck”. The winning Mississippi Conservation Message was submitted by Skyla Perry, 18, of Natchez. She wrote, “Ensuring that future generations get to see beautiful wildlife in person, not just pictures and paintings.”
This program offers an art- and science-based curriculum that teaches wetland and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. If you are interested in learning more about the contest, please contact the Mississippi Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator at David_a_Dean@fws.gov.
A Special Thank You to all the participating schools, teachers, and students:
Cathedral School, St. Richard School, Stewart Academy Home school
First, second and third place winners in each of the four age groups:
1st Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3) Edmund Stanton 1st Place – Group 2 (Grades 4-6) John Choufani | 1st Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9) Vivian Stewart 1st Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12) Chance Bertelsen |
2nd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3) Peyton Smith
Joseph Starrett | 2nd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9) No Entries 2nd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12) Parker Claire Maxwell |
3rd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3) Logan Banks 3rd Place – Group 2 (Grades 4-6) Ryan Carlson | 3rd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9) No Entries
Jackson Webb |
Honorable Mention winners in each of the four age groups:
Group 1 (K-Grade 3)
Arya Luggins, Jude Shannon, Max Jones, Stella McArthur, Nadia Jackson, Ava Brooks, Alana Kidd, Jayden Johnson
Group 2 (Grades 4-6)
Lorin Bass, Cooper Davis, Judah Hill, Layla Bost, Mia Nasif, Kate Vandiver, Ann Margaret Morisani, Maximus Hoover, Parker Bierdeman, Mary Choufani, Rivers Hoffman, Addy Boteler, Drew Simmons
Group 3 (Grades 7-9)
No Entries
Group 4 (Grades 10-12)
Marlaysia Fleming, Skyla Perry, Owen Bertelsen, Maggie Waddill, Faith Anne Johnson, Julia Smith, Erin Young, Lizzie Verucchi, Rachel Misita, Samuel Stout, Allie Mcgehee, Madelyn Fieldev, Lacy Welch, Searey Branton
Best of Show Artwork – by Chance Bertelsen, Natchez, MS (see file attachment BOS 2024 Bertelsen)
