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Fifth grade Huntsville student wins Alabama Arbor Day poster contest

Published on February 20, 2024

McKenzie Cloud, a fifth-grade student from Goldsmith ­Schiffman Elementary School in Huntsville, won the 2024 Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest. She received cash and other educational prizes for her winning poster designed around the contest theme “Trees Are Terrific…in Cities and Towns.”

Two runners-up were also from the Huntsville area. Gracie Reid from Hampton Cove Elementary School took third place and Eleanor Perry from Horizon Elementary School in Madison captured second place.

Some 2,150 students, in 86 classrooms, in 25 schools participated in the 2024 contest. The City of Huntsville’s Green Team helps to promote and support the Arbor Day Poster Contest in local schools.

girl wearing a skirt and blue jean jacket stands next to an older lady wearing a blue suit in front of the alabama state capitol building. the girl is standing by a microphone giving a speech
Fifth-grade student McKenzie Cloud, from Goldsmith ­Schiffman Elementary, won the 2024 Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest.

To recognize the winning students, Governor Kay Ivey hosted a tree planting ceremony with McKenzie and contest runners-up on the Capitol grounds in Montgomery on Feb. 20. McKenzie spoke about “What Arbor Day Means to Me” and received an Arbor Week Proclamation signed by Governor Ivey.

girl stands next to artwork she painted
Gracie Reid from Hampton Cove Elementary School captured 3rd place in the state competition

“As Alabamians, it’s imperative that we all do our part to ensure our state’s natural beauty remains intact for the future generations to come,” Governor Ivey said. “Arbor Day provides an exciting opportunity for us to show our children what it means to be ‘Alabama the Beautiful’ and motivate them to do their part in keeping our forests healthy.”

The Alabama Arbor Day Poster competition is sponsored by the Alabama Urban Forestry Association, Alabama Extension, Hunter Trees, LLC, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama Inc., Alabama Power Company, Legacy Inc., Keep Alabama Beautiful, Alabama 4-H and Governor lvey’s office. The Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest originated in 1997.

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