By Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
Third place winner "The Birth of A River".
CORPORATE AREA schools walked away with the top prizes in the 2002 Earth Day Essay and Poster Competition organised by the Natural History Division of the Institute of Jamaica (LoJ) recently, but rural schools also performed well.
In the essay competition, Oge Gordon of Campion College emerged winner, writing on the topic, "What can be done to
protect the watershed from destruction?"
He received top marks for "originality of expression, interpretation of theme and grammar", according to the judges. His prizes included a complimentary trip to a Caribbean destination, gift vouchers and cash.
Second place was awarded to Melody Golding of Westwood High School, while Kimone Simpson of St. Hilda's received the third prize.
In the poster section, first place went to Monique Williams of Trench Town Comprehensive High School. According to the judges, her interpretation of the theme "Watershed and the Economy" was very intelligent.
"It's composition and design are clear and uncluttered, which conveyed her interpretation vividly," said the judges in their report.
Second and third places were awarded to Jannel Johnson and Treena Bailey, both of Westwood High School.
Judges for the poster section Ian Gage (Environmental Foundation of Jamaica), Cleon Golding (LoJ), Sandra Moodie (Bank of Jamaica) and Cheyenne Caine (National Water Commission) all agreed that the quality of entries for this year was higher than in previous years, which made judging rather difficult. A suggestion was made that many of the posters can be translated into printed posters, postcards, calendars or mounted in a long-term exhibition.
Flattering comments regarding presentation and finish were also made by Thera Edwards (National Environmental Protection Aency), Lilieth Nelson (UWI), Mark Nolan (Ridge to Reef Watershed Project), and Amy Deck (Friends of the Sea), who judged the essay entries.
"Overall, there was a high standard with regards to presentation and finish. But the students encountered problems in interpretation of theme, and originality of expression, which are areas with the most points."
They recommended that student spend more time on research and attribution of sources and reference material.
The 26 poster and nine essay entries were judged on the basis of originality and expression, presentation and finish, interpretation of theme, grammar, and (for posters) composition and design.
Prizes came from a number of companies, including the Jamaica Public Service Company, Computer Sales and Services, Air Jamaica Limited, Sangster's Book Stores, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Dolphin Cove Limited and the Pesticides Control Authority.
The competition is organised by the LoJ annually in a bid to increase the awareness of students, from grades nine to 12 in secondary schools, regarding need to preserve the natural
environment.
