Hugh Parkey poster contest winners receive prizes

This evening seven students were recognized for their winning entries in the first Hugh Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness and Education poster art contest. The lucky winners are: Malcolm Tillett of Corozal Nazarene School who captured first prize in the lower division category, while Holy Redeemer student Erwin Quintanilla walked off with the first prize in the middle division, and second prize was awarded to Lori Tillett from Corozal Primary School. In the Upper Division category, first prize was given to Joanne Golib from Belize Elementary School. The secondary school competition saw St. Catherine’s Academy winning all three top prizes. First place went to Alison Lin, second to Rochelle Reneau, while Emma Fairweather took third. Each winner received a one-year schoolbook certificate, a basket of art supplies, and a financial reward. In addition, the principals of the first prizewinners were presented with a computer for their schools. According to the foundation’s educational outreach coordinator, Roger Arana, the competition was based on the theme: Appreciating Belize’s Marine Wonders.

Roger Arana, Coordinator, Educational Outreach
“We didn?t receive a lot of entries, we received from four schools and like I mention again, it was our first year and I think the problem was that we sent out the advertisement like two weeks before school closed, so I congratulate the students that did took it upon themselves to send their entries.”

“The objective of the poster competition was to increase marine awareness with the primary and secondary students, but at the same time to expose the Hugh Parkey Foundation. As I mentioned, it was part of our Marine Awareness Week, and along with the poster competition, we had some other fundraising activities like our patron’s dinner as well as a film festival.”

It is hoped that the students will have a better appreciation of the country’s natural resources and do what they can to protect it.