The Alexander Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held six of our yearly environmental education contests for the 2023/2024 school year. The school winners from each category were honored at our Soil & Water Awards Banquet held on April 16th at the Emerald Hill in Hiddenite. All of the education contests shared the theme “The Living Soil.” Each school level winner in all competitions received $20 and a first-place ribbon. County level winners received $30 and a plaque, while runner ups received $15 and a ribbon. Third place county winners received a ribbon. The winner of the 5th Grade Poster Contest was Ava Barnes from Bethlehem Elementary. The runner up was Avery Barnes from Sugar Loaf Elementary, and in third was Ava Mannis from Stony Point Elementary. Avery’s poster went on to receive an honorable mention at the Area Level. In addition to those mentioned above, other school level winners were: Cason Honeycutt from Ellendale Elementary, Caylee Parson from Hiddenite Elementary, Adalyn Bebber from Millersville Christian, Rhett Herman from Taylorsville Elementary, and Abigail Huffman from Wittenburg Elementary. In Sixth Grade Essay contest, the county winner was Paisley Waugh from Millersville Christian. The runner up was Tucker Barnes from WAMS, and third was Nataly Hernandez from EAMS. Paisley’s essay went on to receive 3rd place at the Area Level. This year’s Slide Show Contest Winner was Madison Herman from Millersville Christian Academy. The runner up was Cinthia Herrera Salinas from WAMS, and third was Nayeli Galarza Deleon from EAMS. Madison’s Slide Show went on to receive an honorable mention at the Area level.
This year’s County Speech Contests were held on February 27th at the Alexander Services Center. We had no Seventh-Grade contestants this year. The Eighth Grade Speech Contest Winner was Samuel James from Millersville Christian Academy. The runner up was Makayla Wilson from WAMS and coming in third place was Rylee Robinson from WAMS. Samuel James went on to compete at the Area Level in Caldwell on March 21st and took Third Place. Newly added to this year, the Ninth through twelfth Grade Speech Contest Winner was Laurel Mitchell from Alexander Central High School. She went on to compete at the Area Level in Caldwell County and placed second. Laurel Mitchell also won the new Ninth through twelfth Grade Essay Contest this year and received third place at the Area level. Carter Bowman from Alexander Central High School placed second in the county essay contest. Alexander SWCD also held a ninth-twelfth Grade Slide Show contest. This year’s county winner was Emery Miller from Alexander Early College. The runner up was Laurel Mitchell from Alexander Central High School. Emery Miller’s Slide show went on to take 1st place at the area level and received first place at the State Level Competition!
The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors and Staff would like to again congratulate all of the 2024 Conservation Contest participants and winners on a job well done! We would also like to thank all our sponsors that donated door prizes and funds to make our Soil & Water Awards Banquet possible. The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors consists of Chairman Myles Payne, Vice Chairman Eugene White, Secretary/ Treasurer Colby Herman, and members Kathy Bunton and Bryant Chapman. Please contact Pamela Bowman, Alexander SWCD Director, at 828-632-0638, for more information on yearly contests or other education programs.
Fifth Grade poster winner- Ava Barnes, Bethlehem Elementary
Sixth Grade essay winner- Paisley Waugh, Millersville Christian Academy
Sixth Grade slide show winner- Madison Herman, Millersville Christian Academy
Seventh- Eighth grade speech winner- Samuel James, Millersville Christian Academy
Ninth- Twelve grade speech & essay winner- Laurel Mitchell, Alexander Central College
Ninth- Twelve grade slide show winner- Emery Miller, Alexander Early College
