Award-winning student artworks rooted in Arbor Day principles

WOODS — The Grosse Pointe Woods City Council publicly recognized several local students for their artistic expressions about the value of trees.

During a June 5 City Council meeting, the council and the city’s Tree Commission presented awards to third grade students from each of the elementary schools in the Woods — University Liggett School, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School, Ferry Elementary School, Mason Elementary School and Monteith Elementary School. The best Arbor Day poster from each school was acknowledged, and the council and mayor congratulated the students for their artworks.

“It is so wonderful to see the young people put so much effort into describing in their words and pictures the wonderful city we live in,” Mayor Arthur Bryant said after the meeting.

Bryant said the city’s mature tree canopy is something residents appreciate and benefit from.

The winning students were Isabelle Janis, of Ferry; Stacey Pennar, of ULS; Willow Wargo, of Monteith; Bridget Fiske, of Mason; and Emmerson Dallaire, of Star.

“This is the 45th year that Grosse Pointe Woods has participated in the (Arbor Day Foundation’s) Tree City USA program,” said Paul Lechner, chair of the Tree Commission.

Lechner said the winning students received commemorative T-shirts, and their names will be engraved on plaques at their schools. In addition, he presented each of the students with a special quarter from Tree Commission member Ted Colborn that features an image of a student planting a seedling.

The winning posters will be featured in the city’s 2024 calendar, said Lechner, noting they wanted to “recognize these outstanding artists.”

To encourage tree planting and maintenance of the city’s urban canopy, Lechner said each third grade student at a school in the Woods — a total of more than 300 — was given a Black Hills spruce seedling.

Bryant said the Arbor Day poster contest winner presentation was “one of the better parts of being mayor.”

Lechner agreed that this event is a highlight for elected and appointed city officials alike.

“This is probably the best meeting that we get to go to — (the one when) we get to celebrate the creativity of the kids in the Grosse Pointe schools,” Lechner said.

During the meeting, officials also recognized the contributions of former Tree Commission member Robert Greening, who died May 25 at the age of 95.