Brianna Cumberland’s art piece, “Water Friends,” was featured on the cover of this year’s Lakes & Streams Art Contest 2018 calendar. The 2017-2018 Lakes & Streams Art Contest is now accepting entries.

WINONA LAKE —  The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams’ 10th annual art contest, “Life at the Lake,” was a success. The artworks of 59 students are featured in the 2018 calendar, distributed by the Lilly Center. Student art depicted native water life and activities like fishing and swimming.

“The art contest is open to all 4th-12th graders in Kosciusko County,” said Caitlin Yoder, education coordinator at the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams. “We want them to capture and display the beauty of their local lakes and streams through art,” she explained.

Next year’s theme is “Seasons of the Lakes & Streams.” All entries are due Wednesday, April 11. They must include a lake or stream, and show the student’s understanding of the seasons. Artwork will be judged by college students from the art department at Grace College. Winning pieces will be displayed in local business around the community and be featured in the 2019 calendar. The top six winners from each grade category will receive cash prizes.

“No artwork showing invasive species will be considered,” said Yoder. “For example, trumpeter and tundra swans are acceptable, but mute swans are not,” she stated. The Lilly Center encourages students to draw or paint native plants and animals. For more details, visit lakes.grace.edu.

The Lakes & Streams Art Contest is one of the Lilly Center’s many educational programs that engages students in learning about the importance of local waterways. Through programs such as Classroom Lake Experience, Lake Adventure Days and Aquatic Petting Zoos, the Lilly Center installs 29 aquariums with native fish species in local classrooms and community centers, interacts with thousands of county students, and engages students in hands-on learning throughout the school year.

The 2018 calendar was sponsored by City of Warsaw, Clearwater Carwash, Didage Sales Company, Inc., KCH Lutheran Health Network, Lake City Bank, Louis Dreyfus Company, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, MutualBank, Surgical Power, Inc., The Papers Incorporated, The Watershed Foundation, Todd Realty, Inc. and Zimmer Biomet.

The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College conducts applicable research, engages and educates residents, and collaborates with other organizations in efforts to make the lakes and streams of Kosciusko County cleaner. For more information or to support their efforts, visit lakes.grace.edu.