Seven 5th grade students from Seven Sky Oak Elementary in Burnsville were named as winners of the Clean Air & Biodiesel Poster Contest. The contest, administered by the American Lung Association in Minnesota and sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, was open to 5th and 6th grade classes in Minnesota schools. It sought creative students to help demonstrate how biodiesel helps to protect clean air and our health. The students received their prizes on June 4th during an Awards Day ceremony at the school. Three Sky Oak students were named as overall winners of the contest: 1st: Natalie Portillo, $100 gift card 2nd: Elianna Panos, $75 gift card 3rd: Libby Keller, $50 gift card Each participating 5th grade class also had first and second place finishers: • Sheila Czech’s class: 1st place, Natalie Portillo; 2nd place, Libby Keller • Michele Griffin’s class: 1st place Angel Felix Jimenez; 2nd place, Nadira Ali & Ariana Edwards (tie) • Jennifer Walls’ class: 1st place, Elianna Panos; 2nd place, Paola Silva Castillo “It was fun teaming Science and Art together,” said Pam Schilling, Science Specialist at Sky Oaks Elementary School. “Researching biodiesel was a great learning activity which included a lot of life lessons regarding our Earth and 5th graders love contests!” “The Sky Oak Elementary students showed a lot of imagination and creativity in the posters,” said Robert Moffitt, communications director for the American Lung Association in Minnesota. “Selecting winners was not easy, but these students really did a fine job of showing how cleaner-burning fuels like biodiesel can help make the Earth a cleaner and healthier place to live.” First place class prize is a $50 gift card. Second place class prize is a $25 gift card.
