Junior Duck Stamp contest open to students

Texas students in grades K-12 are invited to enter the Junior Duck Stamp Contest from now through March 15, 2007.

The art contest is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Teachers may contact the Texas coordinator for the contest, Humberto Rodriguez, at humberto_rodriguez@fws.gov or (956) 784-7500, to obtain detailed rules, entry forms and teaching materials.

A display of the 2006 winning Texas entries can be viewed at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens through Jan 15.

Cash prizes are awarded to first, second, third place and best of show entries in Texas. The winning state designs compete in a national contest offering a $5,000 prize and a free trip to Washington, D.C. for the student, one parent or guardian and the winner’s teacher. Preparation of entries for the

contest requires students to develop an understanding of fundamental principles of anatomy and environmental science. The program also provides an opportunity for students to express artistically their knowledge of the beauty, diversity and interdependence of wildlife.

The first-place design from the national contest is used to create a Junior Duck Stamp for the following year. Junior Duck Stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service. Proceeds are used to support conservation education and to provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located 75 miles southeast of Dallas at 5550 F.M. 2495, Athens. Public hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.