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Paul Tarlowe at 908-637-4125

The authors of winning essays in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife's twelfth annual Fishing Essay Contest were honored on the opening day of trout season, Saturday, April 11, at the Pequest Trout Hatchery & Natural Resource Education Center in Oxford, Warren County. Governor Christine Todd Whitman and DEP Commissioner Robert C. Shinn, Jr. were on hand to personally congratulate each of the winners as they fished in the facility's Fishing Education Pond.

Division Director Bob McDowell was also on hand to spend time fishing with the youngsters. "This is certainly one of the most enjoyable activities I have the pleasure to participate in," he said. "It is a credit to the parents of these youngsters to have instilled in their children the values and appreciation of nature that inspire them to write such fine essays."

After fishing, the winners received plaques and fishing equipment at an awards luncheon held in the facility's auditorium.

The theme of this year's essay was "My Favorite Fishing Buddy." From nearly 500 essays received, the Division selected the essays from the following youngsters:

First Name	Last Name	Place	Grade	Hometown
Kim	Bauernfeind	1st	1 - 2	Howell
Jason Craig	Keple	2nd	1 - 2	Tuckerton
Justin R.	Hofmann	3rd	1 - 2	Newton
Mike	Vellucci	1st	3 - 4	Hampton
Ted	Kozlowski	2nd	3 - 4	Washington
Jordan P.	Apgar	3rd	3 - 4	Columbia
Edward	Kim	1st	5 - 6	Leonia
Theresa	Gue	2nd	5 - 6	Warren
Allison	Baum	3rd	5 - 6	Marlton
Tamara	White	1st	7 - 8	Park Ridge
Jeanne-Marie	Scollo	2nd	7 - 8	Fairfield
Dan	Seals	3rd	7 - 8	Blairstown