Last week, I drove with Karrie Schwaab (Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge) to Yarmouth, Castine, and Holden to deliver the iPad, digital camera, binoculars, and bookstore gift certificate to the top four prize winners in our Silent Spring essay contest. Honorable mention students were also recognized with copies of Silent Spring, and all of the seventh graders who participated in the contest were awarded certificates of achievement.

Parents, teachers, administrators, and fellow students gathered at each award ceremony to learn about Rachel Carson, hear the talented prize winners read their essays aloud, and witness the exciting receipt of awards. A great many proud smiles and congratulatory remarks filled each school's walls! Television and newspaper crews were on hand to capture some of the excitement:

• Story on WABI TV5 News
• Castine Patriot article
• Fenceviewer article

1. Karrie Schwaab, Nick Prato (grand prize winner), and Suzanne Kahn Eder at Frank Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, Maine
2. Suzanne Kahn Eder, Drake Janes (first place winner), and Karrie Schwaab at Adams School in Castine, Maine
3. Back row, left to right: Suzanne Kahn Eder, Wendy Briggs (teacher), Elaine Doyle (teacher), Karrie Schwaab; Front row, left to right: Crystal Bell (second place winner), Catherine Chesley (honorable mention), Kate Fogg (honorable mention), and Samantha McIntyre (third place winner) at Holbrook School in Holden, Maine