2020 Forest Products Essay Contest Winners

The 2020 school year has proved challenging for students across the state. In spite of the pandemic, NCFA, along with its sponsors, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the NC Forest Service, was proud to offer the fourth Forest Products Week Essay Contest. Making small changes to accommodate various learners both in the classroom and at home, we received 533 essays from 183 different schools! Based on average class size, we conservatively estimate that 4,893 children engaged or were introduced to forestry education information during our contest, an increase in engagement from 3,513 students in 2019! To see a map of the 2020 participating schools click this link!

Thank you to all who participated, and to the teachers and parents that supported these students. A panel of forestry professionals from the N.C. Forest Service and the Association served as judges to help select the winning essays. Choosing one winner was quite difficult with so many great submissions. On behalf of our sponsors, we are excited to announce the following winners:

Elementary School: Kennedy Merritt from Harrells Christian Academy in Harrells, NC

Middle School: Hadley Carpenter from Valle Crucis School in Sugar Grove, NC

High School: Mia Dela Cruz from Porter Ridge High School in Indian Trail, NC

Congratulations to our winners! You can read their essays by visiting our website https://www.ncforestry.org/teachers/national-forest-products-week-essay-contest/

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we will be visiting students through our virtual platforms to congratulate them on their hard work.

Honorable Mentions

Elementary Schools

• Laura Bendz from White Oak Elementary School in Apex, NC
• Kaavya Karthikeyan from Kingswood Elementary Schoolin Cary, NC
• Jona Yang from Aquadale Elementary in Norwood, NC

Middle Schools

• Dylan Davis from Greensboro, NC
• Anna Fisher from Perquimans County Middle School in Winfall, NC
• Natalie Boutin from Waters Edge Village School in Corolla, NC

High Schools

• Brayden Wilkins from Purnell Swett High School in Maxton, NC
• Joy Othoo from Wakefield High School in Raleigh, NC
• Samantha Diard from Raleigh, NC