For World Wetlands Day on Feb. 2, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center held a coloring contest for second graders throughout the county.
“The best of each classroom was chosen,” said Curtis Wolf, manager of KWEC. “We are partnering with Great Bend businesses to display them for two weeks.”
The students colored pictures of birds of Cheyenne Bottoms. There were 350 students participating.
“Part of the judging was coloring the birds exactly as they were supposed to be,” said Wolf. The winners received a small bird feeder and a card with the top 20 birds of Cheyenne Bottoms.
Here is a list of the winners: Great Bend Riley - Denise Salcido, Great Bend Riley - Alexia Galindo , Great Bend Riley - Casandra Enriquez, Great Bend Eisenhower - Penelope McCraw, Great Bend Eisenhower - Brianna Brand, Great Bend Park - Jocelyn Leyva, Great Bend Park - Katelyn Petrik, Great Bend Lincoln - Gracie Mackey, Great Bend Lincoln - Evan Wedel
Great Bend Jefferson - Taryn Warren, Great Bend Jefferson - Sarah McAnulla, Holy Family - Amy To, CKCA - Tessa Fry
Hoisington Roosevelt - Livvy Brewer, Hoisington Roosevelt - Isabelle Mayers, Hoisington Roosevelt - Emilee Baz, Ellinwood St. Joseph - Colby Heinz, Ellinwood Elementary - Allison McReynolds and Central Plains - Kristi Weeks.
Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator, worked to have Great Bend businesses display the student’s artwork. The businesses will display the students’ work until Feb. 16. Here is a list of the businesses and the schools they are displaying: OPI, Rana Luna, Cornerstone Interiors, Kansas Mercantile Store, Treaders, Completely Kids, Miss Pretty Pickles, Barton Arts Council, Great Bend Tribune, Waters True Value and The Gallery.