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Tunnel Hill Elementary student wins statewide contest
By Rachel Brown
Rebecca Daniel continues a family tradition with her first-place win in this year’s statewide Arbor Day Poster Contest among fifth-graders.
“I was competing against my sister,” the Tunnel Hill Elementary student said when asked what captured her interest in drawing.
Her older sister Rachel won the school contest last year. Rebecca won this year against 57 other students, then finished first against 36 finalists from across the state. A total of 1,661 Georgia fifth-graders competed.
Members of the Georgia Forestry Commission honored Rebecca’s accomplishment Friday morning by planting a white oak tree on the playground. They also presented her with a certificate, a $100 savings bond and a framed replica of the poster she designed.
Rebecca said her Arbor Day project for Ruth Gonter’s science class was completed with colored pencils and a pen. Students were required to design within the theme “Trees are Terrific ... in Cities and Towns.”
Rebecca’s design was originally created on letter-sized paper. It features a large city with skyscrapers on one half of the paper and a small town represented by a few houses on the other. In the middle is a large tree, and there is another tree providing shade to the houses and shelter for animals.
She said the intricately designed letters depicting the theme took the longest to complete.
Principal Bert Coker said he is proud of Rebecca not only for winning the contest, but also because she is an excellent role model for others. At 12 years old, she’s several inches taller than most of her peers.
“She’s very respectful and kind to the other students and respectful to adults,” Coker said. “The girls look up to her.”
Her mother, Sondra Daniel, said Rebecca has enjoyed drawing since she was little.
“She draws constantly, all day long,” she said. “She’s really good at it.”
Rebecca goes on to compete in the national contest. The winner receives $1,000 and an expense paid trip for his or her parents and teacher to attend the National Arbor Day event in Nebraska at the end of April.
Forester Gary McGinnis said the contest is designed to teach students about the role trees play in various environments.
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Kayla Webb, 15, performs a cheer with the varsity and junior varsity members of the North Murray cheerleading team Wednesday as they walk laps around the track at Murray High School. The team is getting ready for their first game of the season, scheduled for Aug. 20, a scrimmage against Murray High. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
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