{"id":284113,"date":"2026-05-25T22:32:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T22:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/284113\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T22:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T22:32:09","slug":"winners-announced-in-cape-librarys-20th-annual-childrens-environmental-art-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/284113\/","title":{"rendered":"Winners announced in Cape Library\u2019s 20th Annual Children\u2019s Environmental Art Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The winners in the Cape Coral Library and Cape Friends of the Library 20th Annual Children\u2019s Environmental Art Contest \u201cColoring the Earth.\u201d PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Seven-year-old Nico Bartley and his winning artwork. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Keynote speaker Cris Costello, state campaign director of Sierra Club Florida, gives an interactive presentation about Florida black bears. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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The Cape Coral Public Library and the Friends of the Cape Coral Library held the awards ceremony for the 20th Annual Children\u2019s Environmental Art Contest \u201cColoring the Earth\u201d the evening of Wednesday, May 13, in the meeting room of the library. <\/p>\n

The theme this year was \u201cProtect Our Florida Black Bears,\u201d mainly from habitat loss and trophy hunting. <\/p>\n

More than 90 people came to applaud the youngsters as they received their prizes; hear an interactive presentation about Florida black bears by keynote speaker Cris Costello, state campaign director of Sierra Club Florida; and enjoy refreshments. <\/p>\n

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Art Contest Chairperson Alessia Leathers of the Friends of the Cape Coral Library, who founded the contest back in 2006 and has continued to oversee it, gave an overview of the history and thanked those individuals who have provided support over the years.<\/p>\n

With 455 entries received from all over Lee County, a panel of five judges had the difficult task to select the awarded artwork according to four age categories: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 years-old. The awarded artwork has been framed and is on exhibit in the gallery of Cape Coral Library through June 25 and is also featured on the Friends of the Cape Coral Library website at capefriends.org<\/a> under the \u201cArt Gallery\u201d tab. The winners for this year are:<\/p>\n

Category 5-6 years old<\/p>\n

1st place \u2014 Greyson Vaughan (6) Trafalgar Elementary <\/p>\n

2nd place \u2014 Juliette Pabon (6) Oasis South Elementary<\/p>\n

3rd place \u2014 Greyson Hunt (6) River Hall Elementary <\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions \u2014 Kylee Zefri Berry (5) Pinecrest Academy & Dashiell Courtright (5) Whiz Kids<\/p>\n

Category 7-8 years old<\/p>\n

1st place \u2014 Nico Bartley (7) St Francis Xavier School<\/p>\n

2nd place \u2014 Lincoln Swinto (7) Homeschool <\/p>\n

3rd place \u2014 Clara Laursen (8) Heights Elementary <\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions \u2014 Emma Romero (8) St. Francis Xavier School & Elena Yang (8) Heights Elementary<\/p>\n

Category 9-10 years old<\/p>\n

1st place \u2014 Annie Miller (10) Heights Elementary<\/p>\n

2nd place \u2014 Dominic Joseph (9) St. Francis Xavier School<\/p>\n

3rd place \u2014 Mila Salazar (10) Heights Elementary<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions \u2014 Lydia Hoffman (9) St Francis Xavier School & Camille Millsap (10) Heights Elementary <\/p>\n

Category 11-12 years old<\/p>\n

1st place \u2014 Federico Beltran-Velez (11) St. Francis Xavier School<\/p>\n

2nd place \u2014 Weston Mecsics (11) Oasis Middle School<\/p>\n

3rd place \u2014 Zoey Snyder (11) St. Francis Xavier School<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions \u2014 Ayva Whitehurst (11) Heights Elementary & Isabella Evalle (11) St. Francis Xavier School <\/p>\n


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