Governor Announces 2002 Coal Calendar Contest Winners

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today recognized 25 students for their outstanding artwork and essays that have been selected to fill the pages of the 2002 Illinois Coal Calendar. Two children were honored with special recognition awards, and two schools were singled out for their students' level of participation in the contest.

"The Coal Calendar Contest highlights the rich heritage of our state's most abundant resource," said Governor Ryan. "All of the students who participated in this year's contest are winners because they are learning about the benefits of coal as a viable energy source and its importance to the Illinois economy."

Over 2,900 students from across Illinois in grades fifth through eighth entered the competition by submitting artwork and essays that demonstrate coal's significance in Illinois. The 27 winners were recognized this afternoon at an awards ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Springfield. Each of the winners received a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, a medal and a certificate signed by the Governor. The 13th annual Coal Calendar Contest is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA).

In addition, representatives from Immaculate Conception School in Morris and Minooka Junior High School were presented with Lincoln prints for having the highest number and highest percentage of participants, respectively.

"Governor Ryan strongly believes in funding studies to find new clean coal technologies which will ensure Illinois has a reliable source of energy for the future," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "This contest underscores the Governor's commitment to coal, and promotes and heightens awareness of the vast importance that this resource has for our state."

Copies of the 2002 Coal Calendar will be available this fall. To order a calendar, write to Barbara Antonini in DCCA's Office of Coal Development, 620 E. Adams Street, Springfield, IL, or call 217/524-3820 (TDD 800/785-6055).

Attached is a list of this year's winners:

Brittany Ard (Chicago)
6th grade - George W. Curtis School
poster - Coal is Energy

Kyle Billings (Staunton)
6th grade - Staunton Jr. High School
essay - Coal

Mike Capps (Makanda)
6th grade - Unity Point School
essay - Coal: the Fuel of Our Lives

Matt Cosby (Coal City)
7th grade - Coal City Middle School
poster - Electricity is Coal

Maria Ditmars (Lynwood)
6th grade - Heritage Middle School
poster - Look to the Future

Philip Edgerley II (Granville)
5th grade - Putnam Cty. Elementary School
poster - Got Coal?

Jasmine Foster (Joliet)
6th grade - Laraway School
poster - Coal: It Turns Us On

Mary He (Savoy)
7th grade - University High School
poster - Coal Without It You'd Be Cold

Melinda Hiskens (Savoy)
7th grade - Edison Middle School
poster - Illinois Coal

Ryan Howard (Franklin)
5th grade - Alexander Grade School
poster - Coal Fueling Illinois for a Better Tomorrow

Justin Jacobs (Brookport)
6th grade - Brookport Elementary
essay - Coal

Andrew Jones (Du Quoin)
5th grade - Du Quoin Middle School
essay - Transporting Coal

Andy Kemp (Roscoe)
7th grade - Roscoe Middle School
poster - Methods of Mining Coal

Ashley Kimes (Ottawa)
8th grade - Shepherd Middle School
essay - Illinois' Coal Legacy

Kurt Lennon (Round Lake Beach)
6th grade - Beach Elementary School
essay - What a Difference Coal Makes

Ryan Lin (Winfield)
8th grade - Monroe Middle School
poster - Formation of Coal

Christina Mayberry (Carbondale)
8th grade - Giant City School
essay - Coal's Importance to My City

Kaitlyn McCabe (Orland Park)
6th grade - Century Jr. High School
essay - Coal Hard Facts

Megan McKendry (Minooka)
8th grade - Minooka Jr. High School
poster - Energy at Our Fingertips

Dylan Moutria (Murphysboro)
5th grade - Lincoln Elementary School
poster - Coal Brightens Illinois

Jonathan O'Conner (Naperville)
7th grade - Madison Jr. High School
essay - What Do Ya Know?

Elyssa Paulson (Morris)
5th grade - Immaculate Conception
essay - Coal Mining Today

Glynesta Richards (Mt. Prospect)
7th grade - Lincoln Jr. High School
poster - Uses of Coal

Joey Schoen (Carlinville)
5th grade - West Elementary School
essay - Mining Illinois Coal

Elisa Vice (Hamilton)
6th grade - Hamilton Middle School
essay - Got Reclamation?

Devin Dion (Glen Ellyn)
7th grade - Hadley Jr. High School
poster - The Many Uses of Coal

Sabrina Nodal (Chicago)
3rd grade - Keller Elementary
essay - Illinois Coal and My Grandpa's Life