NJ Arbor Day Poster Contest

New Jersey Arbor Day Poster Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nina Phillips
Assistance & Resources Integrating Science Education, A.R.I.S.E.
609-409-8501 Profdev1@yahoo.com

New Jersey Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner
Advances to National Competition

Cranbury, NJ (March 10, 2004) — Lillian Chen, a fifth-grade student at Mountview Road School in Morris Plains, NJ, is the New Jersey state winner in the 2004 Arbor Day National Poster Contest.
Lillian was selected by a panel of science education teachers and specialists from across the state who attended the New Jersey Science Teachers Association Board meeting in Piscataway on March 3. The National contest, sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, asked students to create a poster reflecting the theme “Trees are Terrific … in Cities and Towns!” The annual contest educates children about the importance of planting and caring for trees.
More than 850 fifth-grade students from 27 NJ schools participated this year. As the winner, Lillian will receive a $100 bond donated by CES-NJ . The winner's teacher has the opportunity to receive the Full Option Science System, FOSS, Environments Module (valued at $399.00) donated by Delta Education (suppliers of materials for science education). Lillian also is a finalist in the national contest.
"We're very happy New Jersey participated this year," says John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation. "Students across the state have learned how important trees are to the environment and how we can take care of them."

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Poster Contest Winner/Page Two

The national winner for this year’s poster contest will be announced on National Arbor Day, April 25, 2004. The winner, two parents, and the teacher of the winning student will receive an expense-paid trip to Nebraska City, Neb., birthplace of Arbor Day, where they will stay at Lied Conference Center during National Awards Weekend, April 25–27. In addition, the national winner also will receive a
$1,000 savings bond and lifetime membership in The National Arbor Day Foundation. The winning teacher will receive $200 for classroom materials.
The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship. Visit www.arborday.org for online learning opportunities and educational materials, including lesson plans that correlate with National Science Standards.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Media representatives can visit www.edusite.com to learn more about the contest in NJ and www.arborday.org to learn more about all of the Foundation’s educational efforts.