Dauphin Island Sea Lab helps the Pelican’s Nest celebrate the winners of the Alabama Species Initiative awareness contest

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Posted 7/29/21

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab helped the Pelican’s Nest celebrate the winners of the Alabama Species Initiative awareness contest on Wednesday, July 28. The winners for each grade were on campus from …

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Dauphin Island Sea Lab helps the Pelican’s Nest celebrate the winners of the Alabama Species Initiative awareness contest

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The Dauphin Island Sea Lab helped the Pelican’s Nest celebrate the winners of the Alabama Species Initiative awareness contest on Wednesday, July 28. The winners for each grade were on campus from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. to get a behind-the scenes look at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and for the chance to tour the Official Aquarium of Alabama.

The past several years, DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network partnered with the Pelican’s Nest for a manatee awareness poster contest. This year, the effort expanded and became the Alabama Species Initiative. In the expanded program, grades K through 6th focused on one species with the help of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and consortium partners.

Kindergarteners learned about sea turtles from Dr. Thane Whibbels of the University of Alabama, Birmingham. First graders discovered sharks with Dr. John Dindo of the DISL. Second graders continued the manatee awareness with the DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network’s Elizabeth Hieb. Third graders discussed pelicans with Roger Clay of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Charlene Dindo, the founder of the Pelican’s Nest. The fourth graders chatted about horseshoe crabs with DISL and University of South Alabama’s Dr. Ruth Carmichael. Fifth graders were joined by Mackenzie Russell with DISL’s Marine Mammal Research Program to chat about dolphins. The sixth graders learned about oysters from Dr. Bill Walton with Auburn University's Shellfish Laboratory.

The students wrapped up their lessons by creating an art piece focused on raising awareness about the animal they studied. The scientists who led the conversations with each grade helped to choose the winners.

Alabama Species Initiative 2020/2021 Finalists were as follows:

Kindergarten - Sea Turtles

1st Place - Olivia Woodham (Fairhope East Elementary School)

1st Place - Kileigh Mooer (Fairhope East Elementary School)

1st Place -Evelyn Ralston (J. Larry Newton School)

1st Place - Ellen Zuercher (Fairhope West Elementary School)

1st Place - Autumn Marshall (Fairhope East Elementary School)

1st Place - Layla Friese (Fairhope West Elementary School)

First Grade - Sharks

1st Place - Molly Dolan Daves (J. Larry Newton School)

2nd Place - Hudson Anderson (Fairhope East Elementary School)

3rd Place - Kami Jarvis (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Fiona Stewart (J. Larry Newton School)

Honorable Mention - Cooper Williams (J. Larry Newton School)

Honorable Mention - Holland Grace (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Collin Johnson (J. Larry Newton School)

Honorable Mention - Marlee Jones (J. Larry Newton School)

Second Grade - Manatee

1st Place - Abby Keenan (Fairhope East Elementary School)

2nd Place - Cody Thornhill (J. Larry Newton School)

3rd Place - Ruby Pope (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Donnie Harber (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Joss Williams (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Third Grade - Brown Pelican

1st Place - Brooks Goldman (Fairhope West Elementary School)

2nd Place - Emma Jane Thompson (Fairhope West Elementary School)

3rd Place - Claire Brodbeck (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Savannah Gearhart (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Trey Aylward (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Liam Morrison (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Mia Catherine Hovater (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Alayna Wehmen (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Fourth Grade - Horseshoe Crab

3D Creations:

1st Place - Layla Kirkpatrick (J. Larry Newton School)

2nd Place - Brenna Schmierrer (J. Larry Newton School)

2nd Place - Mary Elliot Sherer (Fairhope East Elementary School)

2nd Place- Bowen Hoover (J. Larry Newton School)

Creative Writing:

1st Place - Evie Stickney (Fairhope West Elementary School)

2nd Place - Logan Creel (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Portraits:

1st Place - Raye Donald (J. Larry Newton School)

2nd Place - Alexis Arnold (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Fact Posters:

1st Place - Cameron Gandre’ (Fairhope East Elementary School)

2nd Place - Gracyn Traylor (J. Larry Newton School)

2nd Place - Faith Byrd (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Fifth Grade - Dolphins

1st Place - Henry Langston (Fairhope East Elementary School)

2nd Place - Shelby Semmes (Fairhope East Elementary School)

3rd Place - Ally Raines Bradley (Fairhope West Elementary School)

Sixth Grade - Oysters

1st Place - Francis Watkins (Fairhope East Elementary School)

1st Place - Jocelyn Henderson (Fairhope West Elementary School)

2nd Place - Tia Chupek (Fairhope West Elementary School)

2nd Place - Karidyn McKenzie (Fairhope West Elementary School)

2nd Place - Audrianne Egebrecht (J. Larry Newton School)

3rd Place - Epsie Dorman (Fairhope West Elementary School)

3rd Place - Lilly Powell (Fairhope East Elementary School)

Honorable Mention - Brooklyn Scallions (J. Larry Newton School)

Honorable Mention - Callie Tremer (J. Larry Newton School)