“Fire Season is Near…Breathe Easier This Year” was the theme of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s 21st Annual Clean Air Month Poster Contest. The competition drew more than 200 entries from fledgling artists throughout the MDAQMD’s jurisdiction, which encompasses the High Desert portion of San Bernardino County and Riverside County’s Palo Verde Valley.

Twelve winners were selected in four grade categories—K-2; 3-5; 6-8; and 9-12.  During an awards ceremony held at the MDAQMD’s Victorville headquarters on May 23rd, winners received gift cards ranging in denomination from $25 to $100, depending on place awarded. Teachers whose students were selected as contest winners were also recognized for encouraging their participation. Each winning poster and its artist will be featured in the MDAQMD’s 2018 calendar, which will be published this fall and made available to the public.

The contest was co-sponsored by the Daily Press, the Air & Waste Management Association’s Mojave Desert Chapter and Victor Valley Transit Authority, which also awarded bicycles to two contest participants, whose names were drawn at random from all entries received.

The MDAQMD’s annual poster contest is held each May as a vehicle for raising awareness amongst High Desert youngsters regarding the pivotal role individual actions and choices play in protecting local air quality and public health.

Pictured left to right, bottom row, are: Gloria Garcia, Mayor, City of Victorville and Board of Directors Chair, Victor Valley Transit Authority; Natalie Soto, 1st Place, grades 3-5, Rancho Verde Elementary, Apple Valley; Anthony Ramos, Bike Winner, Mariana Academy, Apple Valley; Alfredo Nuno, 3rd Place, grades K-2, George Visual Arts, Adelanto; Shaelyn Lepper, 2nd Place, grades K-2, Mountain View Montessori, Victorville; Diego Soto, 1st Place, grades K-2, Rancho Verde Elementary, Apple Valley.

Pictured left to right, top row, are: Rebecca Garcia, 3rd Place, grades 9-12, Riverside Preparatory High School, Oro Grande; Chris Shaub, 2nd Place, grades 3-5, Desert Knolls Elementary, Apple Valley; Amya de Gafferelly, 1st Place, grades 9-12, ACE High School, Helendale; Roseana Navarro-Brasington, Mojave Desert AQMD and Chair, Mojave Desert Chapter Air & Waste Management; Gianna Henry, 2nd Place, grades 6-8, Melva Davis Academy, Victorville; Edith Armstrong, 3rd Place, grades 9-12, La Contenta Middle School, Yucca Valley; Sebastian Lechuga, 2nd Place, grades 9-12, Victor Valley High School, Victorville; Alexandra Posadas, 1st Place, grades 6-8, Melva Davis Academy, Victorville.