Pictured is “Fetch” by Shelby Martin, the 2014 first place winner in the ninth through tenth grade category of the Wonderful Water Student Art Contest.

By ANNA BURKE
The Center for Lakes and Streams

The Center for Lakes & Streams is spotlighting Kosciusko County’s local waterways with a student art contest inspired by the lakes and streams.

The seventh annual Wonderful Water Student Art Contest is now taking entries.

The theme for this year’s contest is “Seasons of the Lakes.” Students are encouraged to submit artwork depicting Kosciusko County waters during one of the four seasons. Submissions are due April 17.

Fourth through 12th grade students from Kosciusko County public, private and homeschools are encouraged to enter.

There will be cash prizes for first through sixth place in six different grade categories: fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh through eighth, ninth through 10, and 11-12. Winning artwork will be displayed around the county.

No artwork depicting invasive species will be considered. For example, trumpeter and tundra swans are acceptable but mute swans are not. Instead, the center encourages promoting the value of native species of plants and animals in the local lakes.

As part of the contest announcement, the center is selling calendars for 2015 that showcase last year’s winning artwork. Calendars are $5 each.

For contest information or to purchase a calendar visit lakes.grace.edu or call (574) 372-5100, ext. 6446.

This year’s contest is sponsored by Biomet, the City of Warsaw Stormwater Utility, Kosciusko Community Hospital, Lake City Bank, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Medtronic, MutualBank, Silveus Insurance Group, Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation, The Papers, Kay Young-Todd Realty and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College conducts research, provides resources, engages and educates residents, and collaborates with local organizations in efforts to make the lakes and streams of Kosciusko County cleaner.