News Release

Winners of Kids’ Artwork Contest

News Release Date: December 14, 2018 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 August through October for anyone 12 years of age or younger. This year, a total of 77 entries were received from young artists living in many different states, including Michigan, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The National Lakeshore sponsored the contest for the third year to continue spotlighting the “Every Kid in a Park” program and to select an image for the front of the park’s 2019 Annual Park Entrance Pass. Engaging with the youth of America is the central theme of the “Every Kid in a Park” program. The National Lakeshore would like to thank all of the participants who dedicated their time and talents to creating a piece of artwork for this contest. 

A panel of impartial members of the park staff judged the contest. The quality of the artwork was excellent and the panel had a difficult time coming to a final decision. After a lengthy deliberation, the judges selected a watercolor drawing of a Great Lakes Piping Plover on the beach by Peace Hawley Joppich, age 9. Peace is from Maple City, Michigan and attends Leland Public School. Runner-up went to Daniel Chia, age 7, from Duarte, California. Daniel’s color drawing shows kids playing on the dunes and posing with the “Find Your Park” picture frame. Daniel was also selected as the runner-up last year, but since the artwork remains anonymous to the judges, it is just a fun twist that Daniel was selected again!

Peace and Daniel will receive a selection of gifts from the park’s bookstore, sponsored by the park’s cooperating association, Eastern National. As the winner, Peace was also awarded an Annual Park Entrance Pass that proudly displays her artwork on the front. 

Every year, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sells over 11,000 Annual Park Entrance Passes through the fee collection stations located across the park and online at www.pay.gov. 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.