Jul 6, 2009 4 min read

The illustrations of two Fayette County 10-year-olds were selected for a book that features the drawings of students from across the nation. The illustrations were chosen as part of the annual “Write On! Wetlands Challenge.” The contest was open to kindergarten through fifth-grade students in all 50 states. Of more than 600 entries from students across the nation, drawings by Briena Sadler of Gans and Alayna Keith of Smithfield, students at Friendship Hill Elementary School in the Albert Gallatin Area School District, were selected for publication.

Their drawings were two of 17 selected across the nation and two of three Pennsylvania students whose drawings were selected. They shared the honor with students from as close as Norristown, Pa., to as far away as San Antonio, Texas.

Keith’s drawing of the story’s hero, a young raccoon named Herman Cooney, using his spyglass to take a closer look at a clue, was chosen as the book’s front and back cover illustration.

Sadler’s drawing, which illustrates how Herman discovered footprints and a clue outside Sally Salamander’s house in a wetland complete with lily pads and cattails, was featured on page 16 of the 32-page story.

“I think it’s cool (that we won) and are from the same school,” said Keith.

Each year, Environmental Concern, a nonprofit organization based in St. Michaels, Md., sponsors a writing contest and an illustration contest for students. A different story theme – always based on some aspect of calling attention to the importance of wetlands – is chosen.

Friendship Hill decided for the first time this year to take advantage of the contest opportunity.

Friendship Hill fourth-grade teacher Lori Detweiler compiled nearly 200 drawings and sent them to Environmental Concern’s headquarters for judging in May, designated American Wetlands Month.

The drawings illustrated pages in a story called “The Three Riddles of Green Boggy Marshes.” The story, written by Raven Morris from Keene, Va., was selected as this year’s winner in the writing part of the contest.

Laurie Raines, wetland youth educator with Environmental Concern, said the organization’s team of judges found a “wealth of creativity and talent” in Friendship Hill’s entries and “agonized for weeks trying to select the best.”

Despite the more than 600 pictures they delved into from across the nation, Sadler and Keith’s drawings stood out, said Raines. Environmental Concern provided each girl with a copy of the book as well as a bookmark and a certificate of appreciation.

Sadler and Keith were very surprised to learn that their pictures were chosen for publication. This is the first national contest either girl has won. Neither expected the honor.

“I am happy,” said Keith, a fifth-grader, on her win.

Sadler, a fourth-grader who said she practices drawing at home, is also proud of her win. She said she placed the book on a shelf next to her softball trophies.

Sadler knew about wetlands before she created the illustration for the book. In fact, her family goes fishing in a pond that is part of a wetland in her backyard, where she spots catfish, rainbow trout, bass and snapping turtles.

Keith said through the project, she learned the importance of keeping the wetlands safe. Wetlands, she said, “act like a sponge and hold water so places don’t flood.”

The project was incorporated into the school’s “Experiment with Science” program, which also included a talk by retired middle school teacher, park ranger and game commissioner Frank Maykuth and a field trip to Friendship Hill National Historic Site.

Both girls agreed that being chosen as winners in the contest helped boost their confidence to participate and possibly win other contests. They thanked their classroom teachers – Detweiler and Sam Franks, respectively – for the rare opportunity to see their drawings published.

Information about the 2010 “Write On! Wetlands Challenge” competition will be posted on Environmental Concern’s Web site at www.wetland.org in January. Two Friendship Hill Elementary School students Briena Sadler (left) and Alayna Keith recently have had their artwork published in a book. (John F. Brothers/Herald-Standard)