Liberty, Texas, Student Wins Top Honors in State-Fish Art Contest

Media Contact: Larry Hodge, (903) 670-2255, icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Larry Hodge, (903) 670-2255, larry.hodge@tpwd.texas.gov; Pat Conzemius, (763) 253-0222, pconzemius@wildlifeforever.org

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ATHENS—Anh Thu Do of Liberty is the 2010 winner of the Art of Conservation Stamp Award in the 12th annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest, it was announced Saturday at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, site of this year’s contest expo.

Do, a graduating senior from Liberty High School, was a student of Marsha Rader, art teacher at the school.  Do’s painting of a steelhead trout also took first place for grades 10—12 in the Texas division of the contest.

“Wildlife Forever is pleased to honor the talented Texas artist, Anh Thu Do, with the 2010 Art of Conservation Stamp Award," said Douglas H. Grann, Wildlife Forever president and CEO.  “This honor is awarded to the student whose winning design becomes part of the State-Fish Art stamp collection. By recognizing the work of students today, we hope to inspire the conservationists of tomorrow."

“Anh Thu is really the art teacher’s dream student,” said Rader. “I didn’t have to teach her anything—I just encouraged her to get out of the box and try different media and techniques.” Do’s winning entry was her first-ever drawing of a fish.

“I chose to paint a steelhead because I used to live in Washington State,” said Do, who has lived in Texas about a year.

Do’s painting is available as a collector’s stamp. Proceeds from sales of the stamp help fund Wildlife Forever conservation projects. For information how to purchase the stamp and other related items, visit www.statefishart.com.

 “Americans nationwide will learn about fisheries conservation and local aquatic species by experiencing the beautiful artwork of our country’s youth,” Grann said. “Through the Art of Conservation stamps, the State-Fish Art Contest spreads the good news about our outdoor heritage while generating funds for fisheries conservation.”

Winners from 18 states and their families converged on Athens July 16 and 17. Brooklynn Selby of Henryetta, Oklahloma, took the People’s Choice award. Voting took place both online and at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

Best of Show awards were given in each of three grade-level divisions. Winner of the grades 4—6 division was Monna Dong of Michigan. Best of Show for grades 7—9 went to Riley Nelson of Minnesota. For Grades 10—12, Best of Show winner was Abraham Hunter of Illinois.

All the artwork can be viewed at www.statefishart.com.

The Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest seeks to involve students in the outdoors through art. Texas annually produces about 600 entries in the contest, one-fourth of the national total. Students compete in three grade-level divisions: 4—6, 7—9 and 10—12. Texas entrants all receive a fishing lure from Strike King Lure Company, and Texas winners receive cash prizes and travel expenses to the national expo through support from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

Deadline for submitting entries to the contest is March 31 each year. Information on the contest is available at tpwd.texas.gov/fishart or www.wildlifeforever.org.