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Two Marlow Elementary School students were winners of the annual Arbor Day poster contest and were recently recognized at an Arbor Week Kickoff event cosponsored by Oklahoma Forestry Services and the Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Council at the Oklahoma History Center. Fifth-graders from across the state submitted original artwork illustrating this year's theme, ???Trees are terrific ??? in our cities and towns.???

???The poster contest is a fun way to engage kids in a discussion about the importance of trees in our environment, and specifically the benefits they provide in urban areas,??? said State Forester George Geissler. ???They learn that urban trees not only provide beauty and shade, but also improve air and water quality, provide wildlife habitat and even make us feel better.???

The winning posters were created by Chelsea Strutton, first place, from Darlene Black's class at Marlow Elementary School; Darla Way, second place, from Kathy Kelly's class at Marlow Elementary School; and Zac Nichols, third place, from Susan Lalman's class at Morrison Elementary School.

In addition to being recognized at the Arbor Week event, the first place winner's poster will be printed and distributed statewide and American Electric Power will provide a tree to be planted on her school grounds. All of the students' posters will be printed on bookmarks, which will also be distributed statewide. Additionally, Chelsea Strutton and Darla Way will receive cash prizes provided by Legacy Bank of Marlow and their teachers will receive gift cards courtesy of the Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Council.

Oklahoma celebrates Arbor Week the last full week of March each year and Oklahoma Forestry Services encourages people across the state to commemorate the holiday by planting new trees and taking care of existing ones. Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, is committed to conserving, enhancing and protecting Oklahoma's forest resources. For more information, visit www.forestry.ok.gov or call (405) 255-6158.