Alachua County Commission recognizes winners of 13th annual "Saving My Alachua" environmental art contest

At an Alachua County Commission ceremony, Chair Ken Cornell and county staff recognized student winners of the 13th annual Saving My Alachua Environmental Art Contest and announced plans to exhibit additional entries at a nearby Montessori school.

Chair Ken Cornell opened the program, told students "You are the leaders of the future," and said the event celebrates the community's environmental stewardship through youth artwork. Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels described the contest and its reach, saying, "We received 583 submissions, individual submissions from 27 different schools this year." Environmental director Steve Hosterter said staff serve as judges and noted the contest produces the county's annual calendars featuring selected art.

The ceremony proceeded grade-by-grade as Commissioner Mary Helen Wheeler read winners' names and invited students to come forward for photos and recognition. Wheeler highlighted calendar selections and frequently asked students to name their schools as they came up.

Host Steve Hosterter told the audience the county was arranging a public display of the remaining artwork at a nearby Linnea Kea Montessori School on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and encouraged families to view those pieces. Hosterter also said staff review many entries—at one point referring to "about 580 applicants"—and thanked volunteers and staff who support the contest and calendar production, singling out staff member Erica (last name not provided) and photographer/designer Takumi Sullivan for their roles.

The transcript contains slightly different totals: Missy Daniels stated 583 individual submissions and 39 winners present that evening, while Steve Hosterter referred to about 580 applicants and noted there were hundreds of additional pieces that would be shown at the Montessori school. The article reports both figures as stated in the meeting transcript rather than reconciling them.

Chair Cornell closed the ceremony with a passage often attributed to John Wesley—"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can…"—and adjourned the meeting.

The commission did not take legislative action during the ceremony; the event was a recognition program and public display announcement. The county provided printed programs and is publishing a calendar that will feature selected student artwork.