Each year the Polk Soil & Water Conservation District sponsors a poster and essay contest for students throughout Polk County. Students are given the theme for their posters and essays as well as a classroom presentation related to the theme. This year the theme was “Water…The Cycle of Life.”

Winning poster and essay contestants from the county are awarded cash prizes and their posters and essays are sent to the Area I contest which consists of 16 counties throughout Western North Carolina. The teachers of the winning posters and essays are also awarded cash prizes to be used for classroom needs.

This year’s winning students and teachers are as follows:

Posters:

3rd grade: Student – Luke Murrex Dyer; teacher – Sherrie Ford – Polk Central School.

4th grade: Student – Juniper Walter-Eger; teacher – Andrea Walter – Polk Central School.

5th grade: Student – Lauren Ketwitz; teacher – Tonya Pelton – Polk Central School.

6th grade: Student – Virginia Bowyer; teacher – John Ruth – Polk County Middle School.

Essay:

6th grade: Student – Erica Sullivan; teacher – John Ruth – Polk County Middle School.