Eagle Days Art Contest Winners 8th Annual Bald Eagle Days Festival: Art and Poetry Competition On February 2, 2008 Dickson Mounds Museum hosted an awards ceremony and display of student's art and poetry for the Havana Bald Eagle Days Festival: Art and Poetry Competition. Students in grades 1 - 12 from Mason and Fulton County schools submitted 172 works of art and 76 poems paying tribute to the American Bald Eagle. Competition categories included 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and poetry. Students could enter the competition under three age divisions in each category; Group 1 (grades 1-4), Group II (grades 5-8), Group III (grades 9 - 12). First, second, and third place awards were given. All entries are to be displayed at Dickson Mounds through February 17, 2008. This annual event is sponsored by the Mason and Fulton County Arts Councils, Mason County Library District, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Dickson Mounds Museum.

 

Group 1 Art Winners

Two Dimensional Art - Group 1 (Click on the images below to display a larger versions.) First Place Soaring Eagle, Cooper Hutchinson, Walker Art Studio, 2nd Grade Second Place   Supper Time, Sam Bleem, Walker Art Studio, 2nd Grade Third Place Perching Eagle, Nick Williams, Walker Art Studio, 1st Grade Honorable Mention Fisherman, Garion Leamon, Illini Central, 3rd Grade Honorable Mention All American Eagle, Daria Moore, Spoon River Valley, 4th Grade Honorable Mention Searching for Prey, Haley Yetter, Walker Art Studio, 4th Grade   Three Dimensional Art - Group 1 (Click on the images below to display a larger versions.) First Place Mama Eagle Watching Over Her Fledgling, Joe Hohenshell, Walker Art Studio, 4th Grade Second Place   Survivor, Eileen Urish, Illini Central, 4th Grade Third Place Eagle Riverwatch, Megan Ley, Havana New Central, 3rd Grade Honorable Mention Mother Eagle Sitting on Branch, Jaclyn Culler, Illini Central, 3rd Grade   Group 1 Poetry Winners Poetry - Group 1 First Place Mary Leamon, 4th Grade, Illini Central School Be heard I see you there, pretty bird, Sitting there, wishing you'd be heard, I feel the same way, For I too would like to fly away, Locked up, Put inside, Plenty of feelings I've tried to hide, Now that my path is closed, I have nowhere to go, But you, sweet eagle, you have wings of a bird, It is your time to be heard. Second Place Anna Greenfield, 3rd grade, Illini Central School The Eagle! The night is quiet oh where could they be? You don't see many of them around in trees. They may watch us and or guide us in difficult times Don't you wish you could be of there kind Flying and soaring thru the air, you don't really see them anywhere. Third Place Jeremiah Ishmael, 3rd Grade, Havana New Central Eaglezilla Eagle Strong,huge Swooping, flying, teaching Hunting for huge fish Raptor Honorable Mention Rachel Homan, 3rd Grade, Havana New Central Don't Hunt Eagles Eagle Proud, smart Flying, swooping, persevering Hatching and meat eating Bird Honorable Mention Annette Meyer, 3rd Grade, Havana New Central Looking for fish Eagle Strong, fast Hunting, soaring, flying A predator and killer Bird Honorable Mention Alicia Davis, 3rd Grade, Havana New Central Eagle Lookoff Eagle beautiful, strong catching, flying, teaching hatching babies in a nest bird   Group 2 Art Winners Two Dimensional Art - Group 2 (Click on the images below to display a larger versions.) First Place The U.S. Bird, Breahna Lesemann, Walker Art Studio, 7th Grade Second Place Bald Eagle, Emily Ellsworth, Spoon River Valley, 8th Grade Third Place Bald Eagle, Abbie Duffield, Spoon River Valley, 8th Grade Honorable Mention American Pride, Kelsey Hanlin, Spoon River Valley, 8th Grade Honorable Mention Looking for Prey, Kelsey Knake, Walker Art Studio, 5th Grade Honorable Mention The Predator, Krystina Short, Illini Central, 6th Grade   Group 2 Poetry Winners Poetry - Group 2 First Place Lydia Perrilles, 7th Grade, Spoon River Valley Soaring Free Soaring free across the skies, Seeing all with my keen eyes, I fly o'er the lands, forever free, My heart fills with serenity.   I watch as the field mouse tries to scurry away, Then I swoop down, and capture my prey, I love the silver fish, a lovely tidbit, As long as I hunt,I know this is where I fit.   My sharp curving beak, and dagger-like claws, Perfect weapons to survive nature's laws, I love spreading my bark-brown wings past the trees, As I shake my handsome white head in the breeze.   I'd rather fend for my own in the wild 'till I age, Than spend life imprisoned in a desolate cage, I am meant to feel the wind on my wings, For I know, I was made for these precious things. Second Place Logan Pigg, 8th Grade, Illini Central Middle School The Hunt The eagle majestic and bold Scouring the land high and low for food Falling from the sky it appears that it has died Spreading its wings it is reborn   After the triumphing victory it returns As if nothing happened After its beautiful linear of perfection It circles an old oak Then it performs another dive only soft and gentle It finally drops its trophy into its artwork And watches as it is slowly devoured Third Place Cody Geary, 8th Grade, Illini Central Middle School Looking The eagle is calling Its eaglet with a sharp call Now reunited   The Eaglet hungry Calling its mother for food Mother back with food Honorable Mention Ashtyn Stufflebeam, 6th Grade, Cuba Elementary Who am I? A fish I can see from a mile away My claws I use to catch my prey My wings I spread and soar through the sky This is the way I love to fly Up high in the sky I soar Help save me so there will be more I live in the trees in a nest My eggs I leave to rest To catch a fish I dive down Usually I don't fly in town Through the sky I soar with pride I have no need to hide America I lover and the sky   Who am I? I am the nation's bird. I am the eagle. Honorable Mention Brett Kendall, 8th Grade, Illini Central Middle School Eagle Pleasure The Bald Eagle is our national bird Their talons are black and great Don't you wonder what they've ate Ducks, rodents, snakes, and carrion, what a treat The female lays one to three eggs in the spring Their nest are called eyries, up in the trees They are very majestic, and a bird of prey They are a symbol of freedom, I'm glad to say. Honorable Mention Amanda McClure, 8th Grade, Illini Central Middle School Freedom The eagle, such a just and beautiful creature, Yet with only a mother as a teacher. Spreading its wings as it flies, Soaring to the highest of highs. The eagle is our national bird, To kill them would be absurd. Eagles love their freedom, So lets leave them in their forest kingdom. Judges Choice Mike Pendino, 8th Grade, Illini Central Matt's Eagle Cousin There once was an eagle who cheered Who one day Hopes to grow a beard Hunts for its prey in hopes to feared So it has its way Yes it sounds weird So I shall say The very weird eagle grows its beard   Group 3 Art Winners Two Dimensional Art - Group 3 (Click on the images below to display a larger versions.) First Place Eye of the Tiger, Hannah Bugos, Spoon River Valley, 10th Grade Second Place Broad Shoulders, Ashlee Norville, Spoon River Valley, 11th Grade Third Place Bold, Courtney McKown, Spoon River Valley, 11th Grade Honorable Mention The Escape, Alexis Norville, Spoon River Valley, 10th Grade   Three Dimensional Art - Group 3 (Click on the images below to display a larger versions.) First Place There are No Bars in Freedom, Mary Warfield, Canton High School, 12th Grade Second Place Eagle Dancer, Lawrence Knott, Spoon River Valley High School, 12th Grade   Group 3 Poetry Winners Poetry - Group 3 First Place Brittany Powell, Spoon River Valley High School Eagles To hear your voice in the wind, To know that you are there, To see that you are free to know, That you are near, to see you in the Sunlight, to see you in the dark of The night, to know that you are There for me beautiful eagle And can make things right Again, no matter what should Should happen, or what should Go wrong I know you will be There to help me fly away, if We end up off course it will Not matter cause you are always There for me not matter what the Problem might be. So let me be free and soar On the wings of the eagle And fly over lakes, seas, and oceans And know that I will not fall with my Eagles every claw holding on to me And letting me see that I can always Trust an eagle as great as he. An eagle is a bird I trust it is a Symbol of my love, and knowing that It is there for me I know I'm not afraid, Because the eagle I am with is free and Mine forever in the heart of our river. The eagles and I are free to soar over Lakes, trees, and more, we soar So high above the mountains, and Can see the beautiful place that we All live in and knowing how beautiful An eagle really is when you are Flying with him, knowing that I am safe and out of harms way Because now I am soaring with The eagles and I pray that will Never change.   Second Place Kendra Koeppen, Illini Central High School The Eagle's Cry Perched atop his throne up high, He looks upon the land, And soars into the cloudless sky, To watch the wars of man.   Gliding through the tainted winds, He regards with solemn eyes, Destruction now is man's new trend, And so the eagle cries.   On the winds trouble brings, An outlook of despair, But still with hope the eagle sings, Again that man will care.   In a world of constant change, The eagle holds his ground, Flying above what seems so strange, Our answer can be found.   So as we look up to the sky, When we're lost at what to do, Listen to the eagle's cry, Always staying true. Third Place Michele Andereck, Illini Central High School How Does It Feel? As I drift into serenity My room becomes a haze I am lifted from my consiousness And a heavenly sky appears   I'm soaring through the clouds, Gracefully, effortlessly The sun shining on my face And in my peripheral vision I notice a presence   I glimpse above me, And I see this magnificent creature, With feathers of satin Fading, from white to brown   Its enormous talons Clasping my shoulders With such strength and such poise, Protecting my life   Its wingspan of magnificence Soaring so effortlessly With dignity and pride Above freedomless territories   It glides over the plague stricken lands Of the continent Africa Soaring then, above oil driven territory In the deserts of Iraq   Flying majestically above Poverty stricken countries, Shedding healing tears On all visible suppression   Performing duties, miracles With honor and determination Saving precious souls And providing hope   The clouds turn to darkness The sky to my room Leaving me lying breathless Curious to know how it feels…   How it feels to be the symbol Of freedom, honor, pride.   To be a provider of hope.   How does it feel?   (Back to News Page)