10th Annual SwampFest Student Art Competition Winners Announced | Arts & Culture

Congaree National Park is pleased to announce the winners of the 10th Annual SwampFest Student Art competition.

Co-sponsored by the Southeast Rural Community Outreach (SERCO) and the Friends of Congaree Swamp, the competition is an opportunity for young artists from the Midlands to showcase their talent while celebrating Congaree National Park’s diverse resources.   Students were asked to submit art to their teachers, depicting plants, animals, water, or recreational opportunities found within Congaree National Park.  Park staff from a wide range of disciplines selected first place and honorable mentions from dozens of entries.  The first place and honorable mentions will receive cash prizes, provided by the Friends of Congaree Swamp.  All entries will be displayed at Congaree National Park’s Harry Hampton Visitor Center through early December.  The facility is open 9:00 am-5:00 pm daily.

The 10th Annual SwampFest is a local heritage tourism event, which took place on October 6.  Programs were sponsored by SERCO at the Harriet Barber House and Old Mt. Moriah church site in Lower Richland County.  Congaree National Park hosted special programs in the park, in conjunction with the festival.

Congaree National Park preserves the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States.  For more information about Congaree National Park visit http://www.nps.gov/cong.

SwampFest  Art Competition Winners:

Kindergarten

First Place: Emily Lee

School: Catawba Trail Elementary

Teacher: Vikki Pasco

Honorable Mention: Emma Caulder

School: Gadsden Elementary

Teacher: Ms. Bowie

First Grade

First Place: Jadelynn Dunbar

School: South Kilbourne Elementary

Teacher: Ms. Bowie

Honorable Mention: Jakel Boyd

School: South Kilbourne Elementary

Teacher: Ms. Bowie

Third Grade

First Place: Leon Prince

School: Gadsden Elementary

Teacher: Ms. Bowie

Honorable Mention: Travis Walters

School: Gadsden Elementary

Teacher: Ms. Bowie

Fourth Grade

First Place: Joel Ramirez

School: Arden Elementary

Teacher: Mr. Sims

Honorable Mention: Mark Johnson

School: Mill Creek Elementary

Teacher: B. Graham

Fifth Grade

First Place: Zakierra Moody

School: Gadsden Elementary

Teacher: Ms. Bowie

Honorable Mention: Nyjayla Williams

School: South Kilbourne Elementary

Teacher:  Ms. Bowie

Sixth Grade

First Place: Andrea Robichaud

School: St. Peter’s Catholic School

Teacher: Ms. Chance

Honorable Mention: Zack Falkosky

School: CrossRoads Middle School

Teacher: Ms. Jordan

Seventh Grade

First Place: Lily Leaphart

School: Fulmer Middle School

Teacher: Melanie Ward

Honorable Mention: Tyler Corbitt

School: Fulmer Middle School

Teacher: Melanie Ward

Eighth Grade

First Place: Kaitlyn Cote

School: Cardinal Newman School

Teacher: Mrs. Bramhall

Honorable Mention: Hailey Voytko

School: Fulmer Middle School

Teacher: Melanie Ward