The city of Santa Monica, in partnership with nonprofit Sustainable Works, announced the 17 winners of the 17th Annual Sustainable Santa Monica Student Poster Contest.
The winners are set to be honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 14, at 3:45 p.m. at the Annenberg Community Beach House.
This year’s theme was “Think Globally, Grow Locally: Cultivating Sustainable Food through Community Gardens and Urban Farming,” aiming to educate students on the benefits of community gardens and urban farms, as well as the opportunities for the community to get involved.
The contest was open to all kindergarten through 12thgrade students who live and/or attend school in Santa Monica. This year’s 17 winners were selected in four grade categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
“The students really brought this year’s theme, ‘Think Globally, Grow Locally,’ to life with their creativity, passion, and impressive artistic vision,” Chief Sustainability Officer Shannon Parry said. “Each submission powerfully communicated the importance of sustainable food systems and the role urban farming and community gardens play in our sustainable community.”
This year’s contest saw nearly 800 student participants attend 34 presentations at public and private schools and after school programs in Santa Monica, resulting in 458 poster submissions. The judges included representatives from the city and Sustainable Works.
All poster submissions will be displayed at the awards event on May 14. All are welcome to attend.
For more information, email Gina Garcia at gina.garcia@sustainableworks.org.
| Category | Award | Name | School | Teacher | Grade |
| Grades K-2 | Grand Prize | Lincoln Sheng | Roosevelt Elementary | Ms. Goldman | 2 |
| 2nd Place | Amelia Chen | Grant Elementary | Ms. Neumann | 2 | |
| 3rd Place | Josie Padwa | Grant Elementary | Ms. Neumann | 2 | |
| Honorable Mention | Aaliyah Eure | Grant Elementary | Ms. Meshel | 2 | |
| Grades 3-5 | Grand Prize | Declan Brandenberger | Sycamore Community School | Ms. Mack | 5 |
| 2nd Place | Calia Oh | Grant Elementary | Ms. Ripley | 3 | |
| 3rd Place | Rose Nakai Haskelewitch | Roosevelt Elementary | Ms. Gooden | 4 | |
| Honorable Mention | Katrina Rushfield | Sycamore Community School | Ms. Mack | 5 | |
| Grades 6-8 | Grand Prize | Mia V. Patricio-Ramirez | John Adams Middle School | Ms. Joyce | 8 |
| 2nd Place | Eloise Alexopoulos | John Adams Middle School | Ms. Joyce | 6 | |
| 3rd Place | Lulu Vecore | Sycamore Community School | Ms. Mack | 8 | |
| Honorable Mention | Eli Ocko Michalak | Sycamore Community School | Ms. Mack | 8 | |
| Grades 9-12 | Grand Prize | Sahana Lindsey | Santa Monica High School | N/A | 11 |
| 2nd Place | Graciela Buccioni | Santa Monica High School | Ms. Garcia-Hecht | 9 | |
| 3rd Place | Bianca Coyle | Santa Monica High School | Ms. Garcia-Hecht | 9 | |
| Honorable Mention | Sofía Arteaga-Selvas | Santa Monica High School | Mr. Gutiérrez | 10 | |
| Honorable Mention | Olivia Li Tran | Santa Monica High School | Ms. Garcia-Hecht | 12 |
