PRESS RELEASE
from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

For more information,contact
Carla Felix (402) 471-4223,
Amanda Woita (402) 471-4243,
Nathanael Urie (402) 471-4245, or		 For Immediate Release
August 19, 2015

Nebraska Students' Environmental Artwork to be Featured in 2016 "Nebraska: Don't Waste It" Calendar"



The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2016 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” environmental calendar. The statewide contest is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) and focuses on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

The students whose submissions were selected for the 2016 calendar were invited to a ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday, August 17, where they were honored by Gov. Pete Ricketts and NDEQ Director Jim Macy. Each month, the calendar features one of the 12 winning environmental posters. A 13th winner’s artwork provides the cover for the calendar.

The entry featured on the cover was submitted by Laila Swaim, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

The other 12 winners who are featured in the calendar are:

Abigail Lewis, a first-grade student from Fisher’s 24 School, Schuyler.

Jaden Brack, a second-grade student from Weeping Water Public School, Weeping Water.

Faith McDonald, a fifth-grade student from Centura, Cairo.

Katelyn Powers, a seventh-grade student from McPherson County School, Tryon.

Renita Livingston, a third-grade student from MCR Elementary, Omaha.

Julian Camden, an eighth-grade student from St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Arlington.

Jamyoung Ku, a third-grade student from St Patrick’s Elkhorn, Elkhorn.

Brandon Hollister, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

Clair Lindsay, a sixth-grade student from St. Mary’s School, Wayne.

Joshua Eisenmann, a first-grade student from Fisher's 24 School, Schulyer.

Jessica Knippelmeyer, a fifth-grade student from Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island.

Liam Spieker, a sixth-grade student from St. Mary’s School, Wayne.


Nearly 1,500 students submitted entries in this year’s contest.

“The artwork in this year’s entries was very impressive,” Macy said. “In addition to the students’ artistic talent, these posters also express important messages about protecting our environment.”

Copies of the calendar are available by contacting NDEQ at P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, or by sending an e-mail request to NDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov.

Below are photos of the individual contest winners, taken at the Aug. 17 ceremony. In each photo, Governor Pete Ricketts is at right, and NDEQ Director Jim Macy is at left. The last photo is a shot of the entire group.

SizeFile Name
573 KB Jaden_Brack.jpg
543 KB Faith_McDonald2.jpg
638 KB Katelyn_Powers.jpg
614 KB Renita_Livingston.jpg
616 KB Jamyoung_Ku.jpg
611 KB Brandon_Hollister.jpg
569 KB Clair_Lindsay.jpg
593 KB Joshua_Eisemann.jpg
550 KB Jessica_Knippelmeyer.jpg
638 KB Liam_Spieker.jpg
713 KB Group.jpg