The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that a pair of ring-necked ducks will be featured on the 2005-2006 Junior Duck Stamp. The design for the new stamp, painted by 17 year-old Kerissa Nelson of Grantsburg, WI, was chosen by a panel of judges on April 23 at the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest in Ocean City, Maryland.
The acrylic painting, entitled "Ringneck Rendezvous," which previously won the Wisconsin State Junior Duck Stamp Contest was judged the top painting among the Best-of-State entries from all 50 states. The 2005-2006 Federal Junior Duck Stamp, which the Fish and Wildlife Service makes available for $5 to stamp collectors and conservationists, will be released to the public on June 30, 2005. Proceeds from Junior Duck Stamp sales are used to support environmental education efforts and awards for contest winners.
Kerissa Nelsons art teacher is Bruce Teigen. He teaches at Grantsburg High School.
"It is truly amazing to see the work of artists who are so talented at such a young age. But what is perhaps more inspiring is the fact that these kids and thousands more like them around the nation are learning important lessons about the need to conserve wetland habitat through their participation in the Junior Duck Stamp Program," said Acting Service Director Matt Hogan.
Melissa Chen of Gretna, Louisiana, took second place with an oil painting depicting a redhead called "Redhead on the Delta." The 14 year-old studies art at Gregs Gallery. Greg Chappell is her art teacher.
Third place went to Holly Cobb, of Sandy, Utah, for her rendition of a pair of cinnamon teals done in colored pencil. Hollys teacher is Doug Allen of Alta High School.
The National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest is the culmination of a year long Junior Duck Stamp conservation curriculum used by educators across the nation in their classrooms. Each State hosted competitions from February until mid-April where Junior Duck Stamp design entries were judged by a group of people active in the local wildlife art or conservation community.
State "Best of Show" winning designs were then sent to Washington, D.C., where the top three entries were chosen by a panel of five judges. The Junior Duck Stamp Contest winner receives a free trip to Washington, D.C., along with the art teacher, a parent and the state coordinator the following June to be honored at the First Day of Sales Ceremony. The first-place winner also receives a $5,000 award. The second place winner receives $3,000 and the third-place winner receives $2,000.
Judges for this years national Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest were:
