Working in partnership with Mesa Public Schools, the city of Mesa Environmental Management & Sustainability Department sponsored the “Express Your Environmental Self” Earth Day Creative Challenge.

All MPS elementary students were invited to take part in this year’s competition and 128 entries were submitted. Students first selected an environmental theme personally important to them such as recycling, water conservation, pollution, litter prevention, etc. They were then challenged to convey that environmental message through poetry, drawing, painting, or other art form, according to a release.

A panel of judges reviewed the entries received and selected this year’s winners:

Grades K-3 category:

• First Place: Evelyn Giffen, second grade, Las Sendas Elementary.
• Second Place: Blaire Whiting, third grade, O’Connor Elementary.
• Third Place: Nora Godfrey, second grade, Highland Arts Elementary.

Grades 4-6 category:

• First Place: Alfred Harrison, sixth grade, Porter Elementary.
• Second Place: Alexandra Epps, fifth grade, Red Mountain Ranch Elementary.
• Third Place: Mary Callan, fifth grade, Nathan Hale Elementary.

Winners will receive environmentally themed prizes as well as sustainable school supplies for their classroom. In addition, first place winners will have a tree planted on their school campus. Submissions from winners and honorable mentions can be viewed at MesaRecycles.org. These young artists and poets will have the opportunity to have their submissions on display at the i.d.e.a. Museum, 150 W. Pepper Place, this summer, the release states.

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and continues to be celebrated around the world. In turn, the city of Mesa invites residents and businesses to act, too. Mesa is supporting efforts of the community by offering more than 50 fun and easy and locally relevant tips at mesaaz.gov/sustainability.