GLIN==> Youthful Expressions About Aquatic Invasions

Alyn Kiel, Ryan Hansard and Joslyn Sikkenga are winners of the "Aquatic Invasions" essay contest for Michigan high school students sponsored by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network and the Muskegon Chronicle. Eighty-seven students from Muskegon-area high schools submitted essays. Winning essays contained scientific information and youthful expression regarding aquatic invasive species that trouble Great Lakes ecosystems and coastal communities.

"I wanted to make the really dry information I was reading about round gobies more interesting," said Hansard, a senior from Mona Shores High School who won second place by including such punchy lines as, "Šthe lakes are like an all you can eat buffet to them [gobies]..."

Chuck Pistis, Michigan Sea Grant extension agent, is honoring all of the contest winners at the Lake Michigan: State of the Lake 2003 conference on October 21-22. Kiel, a junior from Montague High School and first place winner of $100 for "Purple Loosestrife: A Beautiful Killer," impressed the five judges with accuracy, clarity, creativity and her polished writing style. Sikkenga, a 9th grader from North Muskegon High School, won third place for her presentation of facts, opinions, and sensible management suggestions about purple loosestrife.

Michigan high school students were encouraged to contribute realistic and environmentally-sound management recommendations. The impressive response to the Chronicles' call for entries suggests that teachers and students valued this opportunity to learn about some of the most problematic aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.

Michigan teachers are encouraged to incorporate The Great Lakes Invasion newspaper supplement into their classrooms. The educational supplement, which is also sponsored by Sea Grant and the Chronicle through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, contains facts, articles, maps and student activities concerning invasive species, such as the round goby. Copies can be ordered through the Muskegon Chronicle; mlmattson@muskegonchronicle.com; (231) 725-6390.

The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network extends congratulations to all the winners and participants of the essay contest. A goal of the university-based Sea Grant programs is to educate people about the Great Lakes and coastal resources. There are more than 30 Sea Grant programs across the country that provide curriculum materials and teacher resources, support a variety of education programs for students of all ages, as well as fellowships, internships and graduate research assistantships. See http://www.greatlakesseagrant.org.

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