LOCAL STUDENTS RECEIVE AWARDS AT SENATE EVENT IN ALBANY

11th Annual I*MA*GREEN*NATION Celebration Honors Participants

Tuesday, May 7, 2002

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today joined with 180 local students, including 126 award winners, who were participating in the 11th annual "I*MA*GREEN*NATION" Awards Celebration at the State Capitol.

"Our local winners competed against hundreds of students throughout New York State, and their creative ideas and displays were judged to be among the best at this year�s �I*MA*GREEN*NATION� awards celebration," said Senator Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "I�m very proud to see local students participating in this educational program that promotes recycling and conservation, and I commend them for their successful efforts."

The program helps students in first through eightH grades develop an awareness of the environment through the spirit of competition. It promotes an exchange of ideas about recycling and waste reduction between schools, children and adults, and stimulates creative thinking about solutions concerning recycling and waste reduction problems.

One hundred-eighty students attended from local schools, including 30 students from Gowana Middle School, 46 students from Rensselaer Park Elementary School, 50 students from Stillwater Elementary School, 48 students from Okte Elementary School and 6 students from Tamarac Middle School.

Mrs. Smith�s Gowana Middle School class won first place for Division III in the Audio/Video category. Award winners attending from Mrs. Smith�s class were: Sean Allers, Emily Callen, Meagan Cody, Ashley D�Agostino, Tim Ela, Katie Hare, Adam Hebert, Kevin Hexemer, Erin Horstman, Elizabeth Maciag, Eileen O�Connor, Braden Olsen, Lisa Sluti, Adam Steinberger.

Mrs. Christine McGurrin�s Rensselaer Park Elementary School class won third place for Division I in the Literature category. Award winners attending from Mrs. McGurrin�s class were: Riley Laustrup, Jessica Hogan, Cymantha Sawyer, Nathan McCormick, Rebecca McGuirk, Mariah Sherman, Joseph Sullivan, Aubree Lesson, Blair Meeson, Courtney Hines, Ryan McGrath, Elisa Costa, Tricia Curtain, Brittany Kulls, Meghan Strube, Kyle Bristol, Ashtin Rose, Corey Robinson, Nicole McLarney, Keanna Gang, Meghan Spenard, Sara Alonge, Kahja Reid, Kelsey O�Brien, Haylei Bulger, Nick Martiniano, Nick Pakatar, Alisse McGrath, Chad Laustrup, Zachary LaBrake, Jimmy Collins, Todd Dunning, Rory MacAllister, Hannah Considine.

Mrs. Margaret Rosevear�s Stillwater Elementary School class won third place for Division I in the Audio/Visual category. Award winners attending from Mrs. Rosevear�s class were: Carley Cole, Alexandra Scarchilli, Kacie Cotta-Sacala, Patricia Hill, Karley Walsh.

"I�m very proud of the bright young students that will be attending the awards celebration representing our community, and of their efforts in promoting the importance of a clean environment." said Senator Bruno. "We can all learn from their ideas, creativity and insights."

Winners received award medals, and spent the day viewing submissions by their fellow students from across the state. They also had the opportunity to tour the seat of our state government.

Nearly 3,000 students from across the state participated in the contest with over 1,000 students traveling to Albany for the awards celebration. At the event, all the participants� entries were displayed.

High-resolution photos from I*MA*GREEN*NATION:

Mrs. Rosevear�s class from Stillwater Elementary School

Mrs. McGurrin�s Rensselaer Park Elementary School Class

Students from Tamarac Middle School

Mrs. Smith�s class from Gowana Middle School

Mrs. Kelly�s class from Okte Elementary School