Winner of Kids’ Centennial Artwork Contest

Chloe Jerva's winning entry for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Centennial Artwork Contest.

News Release Date: December 9, 2015

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) is happy to announce the winner and runner-up of the kids’ artwork contest. The contest was open from September to early November for anyone 12 years of age or younger. A total of 99 entries from young artists living in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, Kentucky, and Nebraska were received at park headquarters in Empire, Michigan. The National Lakeshore sponsored the contest in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS) in 2016, and also to select an image for the front of the park’s 2016 Annual Park Entrance Pass. The goal of the NPS Centennial is to connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates. Engaging with the youth of America is central to this goal and to the theme of the new “Every Kid in a Park” program. The National Lakeshore would like to thank all of the participants who dedicated creative time and energies to submit a piece of artwork for this contest. 

Judges for the artwork contest consisted of impartial members from the park staff. The quality of the artwork was excellent and the panel of judges had a very difficult time coming to a final decision. After a long deliberation, a color drawing produced by Chloe Jerva, a 6th Grader from Glen Lake Community Schools in Maple City, Michigan, was selected as the winner. Chloe’s drawing depicts a bear sitting on a dune looking out over Lake Michigan. Runner-up went to Zoe Hunter, a 4th Grader from Traverse City, Michigan who attends The Children’s House Montessori School. Zoe’s color drawing depicts the night sky and moon as viewed over the dune. Both Chloe and Zoe will receive a selection of gifts from the park’s bookstore, sponsored by the park’s cooperating association Eastern National. Chloe will also receive an Annual Park Entrance Pass that proudly displays her artwork on the front. The pass will allow Chloe and her family to enjoy the National Lakeshore for free for the next 12 months.

Every year, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sells over 11,000 Annual Park Entrance Passes through the fee collection stations located across the park. The pass provides free entry for 12 months for the pass holder and occupants in a single, private non-commercial vehicle. If entry is by foot, bicycle, or organized group not part of a commercial tour, the pass admits the pass holder and three adults (16 years of age or older). Children under 16 are admitted free. Beginning January 1, 2016, the cost for the Annual Park Entrance Pass will increase to $30.