December 17, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Winners announced in Soiree '99 Youth Essay, Poetry and Graphic Art Competition

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced today the list of winners in the Soiree '99 Youth Essay, Poetry and Graphic Art Competition. A full list of winners accompanies this news release.

"This competition encouraged and stimulated the creative talents of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians on the theme of The Past 50 Years - The Next 50 Years: Life Within Canada," Minister Furey said. "The large number of submissions to the contest is a testament to the vitality of the youth of our province. I extend my sincere congratulations to all of the participants and trust that, through Soiree '99, we have all learned a great deal about the role that Newfoundland and Labrador plays in the story of Canada."

This competition involved youth between the ages of five to 18, writing essays and poetry and drawing graphic art - all with a Confederation theme. There were four grade school categories - K-3 / 4-6 / 7-9 / 10-12. All categories contained the three areas of competition (essay, poetry and graphic art.) Based upon set criteria, a panel of judges selected the winning entries in each category. All winning entries are now published in a booklet to be distributed to all schools and libraries across the province. Cash prizes ($100/$75/$50) are being awarded to the top three entries in each category. The competition was extensively advertised throughout the provincial school system.

The competition was part of the Soiree '99 youth initiative. Other components include:

- Grade 5 and Grade 9 Social Studies Web-Based Curriculum

Soiree '99 youth staff and an educational consultant, in consultation with the Department of Education, have completed web-based curriculum modules, for both grade 5 and 9 social studies. The focus for the modules is on Newfoundland and Labrador's youth and their future in Confederation with Canada. These modules are online at www.stemnet.nf.ca/ourfuture.

- Confederation Youth Television Program

This component of the youth program involved collaborating with Cable 9 community channel to produce a 30 minute youth television program. The program's focus was youth and Confederation. The writing of the project began in August with recording taking place in September and October. The program was recorded in seven locations throughout the province. It will air on Cable 9 community channels throughout the province in December and January. VHS copies will be sent to all junior and senior high schools in the province.

- Confederation Poster

This full size poster aims to: appeal visually to youth in the provincial school system; contain historical information in an easy to read format; be used by teachers as an aid in encouraging students to learn more about Newfoundland and Labrador's Confederation with Canada. The poster will be double sided (French /English) and targeted at youth aged 10 - 18 years. It will be widely distributed throughout the school and library systems of the province in December.

- Youth Event Partnerships

Soiree '99 has partnered with youth organizations to organize and promote youth events throughout the year (i.e. Soiree '99 Youth Chess Tournament).

The list of winners in the competition is as follows:

ESSAY, POETRY AND GRAPHIC ART

COMPETITION WINNERS

ESSAY CATEGORY - KINDERGARTEN -GRADE 3

1st Place
Eleanor Schillereff
Grade 3
St. Francis of Assisi
St. John's

3rd Place
Angela Hearn
Grade Kindergarten
St. Theresa's School
St. John's

ESSAY CATEGORY - GRADE 4-6

1st Place
Joshua Pynn
Grade 6
St. Joseph's Intermediate School
Carbonear

2nd Place
Johnathan McDonald
Grade 6
St. Joseph's Elementary
Carbonear

3rd Place
Nicole Blake
Grade 6
St. Joseph's
Carbonear

ESSAY CATEGORY - GRADE 7-9

1st Place
Nicole Kennedy
Grade 8
St. Joseph's Junior High
Carbonear

2nd Place
Patrick Savard-Walsh
8e annee
Ecole Francaise de Saint-Jean
St. John's

ESSAY CATEGORY - LEVEL I-III

1st Place
Ryan Snelgrove
Level III
Booth Memorial High School
St. John's

2nd Place
Alicia Jennings
Level I
Coaker Academy
Moreton's Harbour

3rd Place
Melissa Bussey
Level I
Holy Heart of Mary High School
St. John's

POETRY CATEGORY - GRADE 4-6

1st Place
Danielle Rowe-Bartlett
Grade 6
St. Mary's Primary/Elementary School
St. John's

2nd Place
Hope Jamieson
Grade 5
Swift Current Academy
Swift Current

3rd Place
Billy Edwards
Grade 6
St. Mary's School
St. John's

POETRY CATEGORY - GRADE 7-9

1st Place
Claire Hunt
Grade 9
Roncalli Central High School
Holyrood

2nd Place
Craig Moulton
Grade 7
St. Paul's Intermediate
Gander

3rd Place
Lucille O'Neill
8e annee
Ecole francais de Saint-Jean
St. John's

3rd Place
Cheryl Ferguson
Grade 8
St. Joseph's Junior High
Carbonear

POETRY CATEGORY - LEVEL I-III

1st Place
Julie H. M. Stagg
Level III
Discovery Collegiate
Little Catalina

2nd Place
Krista Beck
Level III
St. Lawrence Central High
St. Lawrence

GRAPHIC ART CATEGORY - KINDERGARTEN-GRADE 3

1st Place
Janine O'Rielly
Grade 2
St. Matthew's Elementary
St. John's

2nd Place
Samuel Pittman
Grade 2
James Cook Memorial
Cook's Harbour

3rd Place
Deborah Diamond
Grade 3
James Cook Memorial
Cook's Harbour

GRAPHIC ART CATEGORY - GRADE 4-6

1st place
Chelsea Howard
Grade 6
Baie Verte Middle School
Baie Verte

2nd Place
Robyn Brockerville
Grade 4
Amalgamated Academy
Bay Roberts

3rd Place
Megan Melindy
Grade 5
Sandstone Elementary
Aspen Cove

GRAPHIC ART CATEGORY - GRADE 7-9

1st Place
Wendy Kelly
Grade 8
Random Island Academy
Clarenville

2nd Place
Eleri Dymond
Grade 8
Ecole Francaise de Saint-Jean
St. John's

3rd Place
Rupert Gushue
Grade 9
Amalgamated Academy
Bay Roberts

GRAPHIC ART CATEGORY - LEVEL I-III

1st Place
Greg Ryan
Level III
Booth Memorial High School
St. John's

2nd Place
Jackie Lambert
Level III
Booth Memorial High School
St. John's

3rd Place
Shawn Dicks
Level III
Lakewood Academy
Appleton

Media contact:

Jennifer Cantwell
Soiree '99 Youth Initiative
(709) 729-4897

George Earles
Public Relations/Communications
Soiree '99
(709) 729-4825

1999 12 17 12:50 a.m.