| New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife | |
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April 26, 2001
The winning entrants in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife's first Fish Art and Writing Contest were honored on the opening day of trout season, Saturday, April 7, at the Pequest Trout Hatchery & Natural Resource Education Center in Oxford, Warren County. Acting Governor Don DiFrancesco 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.
Assistant Commissioner Cari Wild of DEP's Natural and Historic Resources and Division Director Bob McDowell were 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," McDowell 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 create such fine work."
After fishing, the winners received plaques and fishing equipment at an awards luncheon held in the facility's auditorium. New Jersey Council of Trout Unlimited sponsored the awards, luncheon and fishing equipment.
The purpose of the contest was to encourage children in grades 4 through 8 to learn about New Jersey's fish. Each student had to submit original artwork that depicted a New Jersey fish in its habitat along with a short bibliography of the species. The winners' artwork will be on display at the Pequest Trout Hatchery through the end of April and can also be viewed on the Division's website at www.njfishandwildlife.com.
Out of 150 entries, the following students were honored for their submissions:
| GRADE | WINNER | HOMETOWN | PLACE | SCHOOL |
| 4 | Douglas John Warren | Laurence Harbor | 1st | Memorial School |
| 4 | Lauren Tarsi | Hampton | 2nd | Union Twp. School |
| 5 | Julie Klimchak | Flemington | 1st | Holland Brook School |
| 5 | Ryan Stainken | Hillsborough | 2nd | Auten Road School |
| 6 | James Karwacki | Florence | 1st | Holy Assumption School |
| 6 | Erin Downing | Marlton | 2nd | Marlton Middle School |
| 6 | William Duffy | Hightstown | Honorable Mention | Melvin H. Kreps School |
| 6 | Ted Kozlowski | Washington | Honorable Mention | Memorial School |
| 7 | Suzanne Haas | Franklin Lakes | 1st | Franklin Ave. MS |
| 7 | Rich Infusino | Franklin Lakes | 2nd | Franklin Ave. MS |
| 7 | Naomi Makofsky | Franklin Lakes | Honorable Mention | Franklin Ave. MS |
| 7 | Saray Noda | Newark | 3rd | Glady’s Hill Jones MS |
| 7 | Steven Smith | Franklin Lakes | Honorable Mention | Franklin Ave. MS |
| 8 | Kyle Fischer | Whitehouse Sta. | 1st | Not available |
