North Port High students awarded in Wildlife Poster Contest

NORTH PORT — A group of North Port High School students started their summers with valuable gift cards courtesy of local businesses as a prize for their environmentally themed posters.

Members of the North Port Friends of Wildlife handed out the awards Monday at the school, and 10 students were recognized.

Three first place winners won $100 gift cards, while three second place, third place, and one deemed "most original" were given $75, $50, and a $25 gift card respectively.

Gift cards were donated from the likes of Mote Marine, Ringling Museum, Blue Tequila and a number of other attractions, shops and eateries.

For the contest, students were tasked with identifying a location on a map on FNAI.org, and then finding an "imperiled" species within a specific location. From there, the student would have to include the species' common and scientific name.

Then facts were needed, such as habitat, relationship and interdependence between a given animal and its domain, and any environmental management practices or conservation efforts for the animal and its home.

Emma French won third place for her poster featuring Palm Coast. It focused on the seaside sparrow, an animal that lives in coastal marshes. They are endangered largely due to rising sea levels, according to French.

After taking a picture with Assistant Principal Stephanie Parziale and science teacher Ann Lane-Hawk, she rabidly opened her envelop to a $50 Perkins gift card.

"Ooh," she said. "I love Perkins."

Judging was carried out by University of Florida/IFAS Extension Sarasota County staff.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to work with North Port High School — especially with teacher Ann Lane Hawk," NPFOWL Chair Edie Driest said.

There was a reason for the contest, she said.

"The health of the environment is intricately linked with our own health and well-being," Driest said.