CONTEST WINNERS FOR 2000 COAL CALENDAR ANNOUNCED

SPRINGFIELD -- First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan today honored the 25 school children whose essays and artwork were chosen to be included in the Illinois Coal Calendar for the year 2000.

"My congratulations go out to all of the students who participated in this year's Coal Calendar contest. Their contributions are helping promote the state's coal industry, which plays a vital role in producing jobs for many Illinois families," Ryan said.

For the 11th straight year, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) asked fifth-and sixth-grade students from across Illinois to submit essays and artwork depicting the significance of coal to the state and its relationship to energy and the environment. This year, more than 1,600 students from 100 schools entered the contest.

During an afternoon ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Springfield, the 25 winners -- 12 in the essay division and 13 in the art division -- each received a $50 U.S. Savings bond and a certificate of achievement signed by Governor George H. Ryan.

DCCA Assistant Director Lourdes Ortiz also attended the ceremony and thanked the students for their hard work. "Your hard work is helping our state do its job of promoting an important resource and source of jobs," Ortiz said.

Also participating in the ceremony were John S. Moore, the chief of DCCA's Office of Coal Development and Marketing, and Illinois Coal Association President Taylor Pensoneau.

Copies of the 2000 Coal Calendar will be available this fall. To order a calendar, write to DCCA's Office of Coal Development and Marketing, 325 W. Adams St., Room 300, Springfield, IL 62704-1892; or call 800-252-8955 or 217-785-0310. TDD: 800-526-0844 or 217-785-0211.

Attached is a list of this year's winners.