Liberty fourth-grader Hunter Dille created three tall green trees in his vertical submission for Murray City Power and The Shade Tree and Beautification Commission’s Arbor Day/Earth Day poster contest.

In his artwork, he included the theme, “Trees are Terrific in Murray and Beyond!”

He was one of his school’s winners and was joined with other grade winners from eight Murray elementary schools and the community preschool at the annual Murray Arbor Day program shortly before the end of the school year. 

From the school winners, the overall city winners were named: Murray community preschoolers Izzy Nichols and Aiden Brown; Longview kindergartner Anthony Bulsiewicz; Liberty first-grader Ella Jones; McMillan second-grader Avery Ling Carlston; Liberty third-grader Hope Roberts; Horizon fourth-grader Lorenzo Marchena; McMillan fifth-grader Dane Crawford; and Longview sixth-grader Taygen Shaw.

McMillan sixth-grader Monroe Medford was named the overall city’s grand
prize winner.

The program also included poetry by Longview Elementary students Jack DeMass, Dylan Kwant, Ellie Homan and Pierce Jenkins; remarks by Mayor Brett Hales; an honorary tree planting and the Tree City USA presentation. This year marked the 47th consecutive year Murray has been named “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day
Foundation.

Liberty first-grader Ella’s submission featured three big trees with blue sky and a bright sun.

“I love trees; the ones that have fruit on them are my favorite,” she said. “I like to climb trees and my friend has a tire swing on her tree so I like to go do that. Trees are also good; they help give us clean air to breath.”

That was a message which was shared during the program, said Hope, also a student from Liberty.

“They talked about how trees affect your health and the air quality,” she said. “I like how trees provide homes for birds and animals and look beautiful with green grass and mountains.”

She created her poster underlining “trees are terrific.”

“I did that because it’s something we should think about,” she said.

To create their posters, art teacher Caroline Wamsley gave students an art lesson, including a video on how to draw trees. 

They had a month to work on them before they were submitted to the city, said Principal Shana Mondragon.

“We got an email saying ‘congratulations’ to our winners and they were invited to the luncheon,” she said.

Hope said her secret to winning is simple.

“Do your best work, but it doesn’t have to be perfect—and don’t turn it in late,”
she said.

The students were recognized on stage and received a bag, bucket hat and a towel.

At Liberty, the winners were honored in the monthly Liberty Leader assembly with certificates and art supplies.

While both girls have kept their posters and plan to continue their love of art, it isn’t in their plans for future careers.

“I want to be a cheer coach,” Ella said while Hope plans to be a veterinarian. “I like art. It makes me happy.”

School winners include: Murray Preschool — Dominic Guest, Izzy Nichols, June Nielson and Aiden Brown; Grant — Ender Metcalf, Nyelli Villalobos, Emory Hales, Camden Stephenson, Olivia Stamos, Hadley Facer and Jahnathon Brozo-Foster; Horizon — Zariah Davies; Aiden Pendleton, Alice Shupe, Almendra Delgado Vicente, Lorenzo Marchena, Mio Valadez and Ryker Maarse; Liberty — Lynlee Padgett, Ella Jones, Kaia Le, Hope Roberts, Hunter Dille, Annabelle Devenport and Darion Westenskow; Longivew — Anthony Bulsiewicz, Ivy Ohai, Judy Pham, Clara Mae Saunders, Owen Scott Douglass, Carolyn Nelson and Taygen Shaw; McMillan — Miles Jerant, Kinzley Bateman, Avery Ling Carlston, Zade Allak, Janis Swensen, Dane Crawford, Monroe Medford; Parkside — Juliet Almodovar Hernandez, Everleigh Hendrix-Rice, Scarlet Caprin, Colton Fox, Liv Vance, Isabella Curubo Roncancio and Josie Davidson; Viewmont — Emma Ingram, Amelia Holman, Annie Nichols, Caitlin Parker, Preslee Andrew and Jesse Stika; Woodstock — Augustin Freyvogal, Ellie Homer, Mary Vargas Moreno, Yaw Baryeh, Piper Olsen and Aspen Ayres. λ