Allie Hunt, a sophomore at Snowflake High School, took third place in her division, Group IV for grades 10, 11 and 12, in the Arizona Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program April 9 at the Audubon Center in Phoenix, according to Mary Kralovec, assistant refuge manager for the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in Ajo.
Her artwork, an oil on acrylic painting titled, The Wood Duck, was on display at the Ajo Art Gallery last week.
Hunt is in the graphic arts class and joined in when SHS art students were invited to participate in the contest.
“Allie’s goal is to work in animation for Pixar. So it’s exciting for her to get recognized for her work. It’s the first step toward her dream,” said her mother, Irene Hunt.
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is an art and science based curriculum, and students learn about wetland and waterfowl conservation.
“The program encourages students to explore their natural world, invites them to investigate biology and wildlife management principles, and challenges them to express and share what they have learned with others,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
The Fish and Wildlife Service produces a Junior Duck Stamp annually that is purchased by collectors at $5 per stamp, with all of the revenues going to support recognition and environmental activities for participating services.
Artwork is submitted by students throughout the United States, and the Best of Show is submitted to the National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. The top three artists at the national level receive scholarships, and state level students will receive an award.
The program began in 1989, with the stamp contest starting in 1993 with eight states participating. The program was recognized by Congress in 1994, when it enacted the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program. All 50 states were participating in the program by 2000.
