Eighth grader wins EERCs T-shirt design contest Grand Forks South Middle School eighth grader Jack Nuveen has won the EERC’s Center for Air Toxic Metals Environmental Footprint Awareness Program T-shirt design contest. Nuveen’s design was selected from a total of 20 final designs submitted from around the region. As part of the T-shirt contest, sixth to eighth grade students from Grand Forks and the surrounding area created a design with a matching slogan to promote awareness about protecting the environment and improving air quality. Designs were judged by a group of research managers and scientists at the EERC based on originality, cleverness of the slogan, theme, artistic ability, persuasiveness, and the overall impact. “The judges were very impressed by Jack’s attention to detail and thoughtful slogan, ‘Warning: Fragile’ accompanied by a drawing of Earth being grasped by two hands,” said EERC Research Specialist and Program Manager Lucinda Hamre. “It was thought by many that the design would look great on the T-shirts Jack and his classmates will all receive.” Runners-up included Mikelle Fetsch, from Ms. Kristi Otto’s eighth grade class at Schroeder Middle School, and Joey Oncken, also from Ms. Brown’s eighth grade class at South. The winning designs will be on the EERC’s web site (www.undeerc.org/catm) and on display inside the Memorial Union May 19–25. Several other display locations throughout the community will be selected at a later date. "This program was a great way to get students to think about what kind of world they want to maintain, and the T-shirt contest was an opportunity for them to share their ideas with others,” said Ms. Lanae Brown, teacher of both Nuveen and Oncken. “There were so many great designs, and I'm proud of Jack and Joey for being finalists." The entire winning class will receive a pizza party and a T-shirt with the winning design provided by the EERC. The party is scheduled for Friday, May 16, beginning at 1 p.m. in Ms. Brown’s classroom at South Middle School. The aim of the EERC’s Environmental Footprint Awareness Program is to educate students about a number of ways to reduce potential damage to the environment. As a part of the program, the EERC has provided necessary resources to classrooms to enhance environmental curriculum, provided awareness on the environmental footprint concept, and helped students generate ideas for their T-shirt designs. Representatives from the EERC have made numerous presentations at area schools on program topics such as recycling, energy efficiency, air quality, and mercury reduction.