Great job, students!

Several Chico Unified students were honored last week for their submissions into the California Jr. Duck Stamp Competition.

Marigold Elementary School third-grader Olivia Layne (pictured) won third place in the K-third grade category for her work depicting two ducks, while her classmate Anthony Montalvo earned an honorable mention. Over at Chico Junior High School, seventh-graders Eli Hase and Ryan Colbert took second place in the seventh-ninth-grade category for their work, while classmate Emma Hoppough, along with eighth-graders Allie Jenkins and Coby Esposito, received honorable mentions.

The elementary and junior high students traveled to Sacramento last week for the judging event with their respective teachers, Mark Rodriguez and James Baumgartner.

Cathy Lee, a 13-year-old Fremont student, won the competition. Her painting will go on to compete in the national competition for the 2010-11 Federal Junior Duck Stamp—part of a national conservation and education program.

California’s Jr. Duck Stamp program is made possible through a partnership of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Waterfowl and their supporters. During the past six months Cal Waterfowl has conducted free environmental presentations for more than 5,000 students around the state.