SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State Jesse White presented awards today to six Illinois students who designed the best posters in this year's Organ and Tissue Donation Poster Contest.
The grand prize winner was Daryl Tayborn, a 5th grade student at George W. Curtis Elementary School in Chicago. Daryl received a $100 savings bond for designing the best poster in the state. The other students received $50 bonds. In addition, each of the students was given a certificate of excellence, an organ donor bear and other acknowledgements of their participation.
The six winners were chosen from thousands of students throughout Illinois who participated in the Secretary of State's 10th annual Organ and Tissue Donation Poster Contests. Winners were selected from four age groups: grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. In two of the age groups, two students were chosen as winners.
"I congratulate the winners of this year's poster contest for creating such wonderful designs," said White. "I also want to thank and commend all the students who entered the contest, because the posters help educate and enlighten people about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation. More than a quarter of a million students participated over the past ten years."
The winners are:
Peter Frankos (K-2)
1st grade, Prussing Elementary School, Chicago
Daryl Tayborn (3-5) GRAND PRIZE WINNER
5th grade, George W. Curtis Elementary School, Chicago
Michelle Panek (6-8)
7th grade, St. Cletus School, Countryside
Logan Kirbach (6-8)
6th grade, Winchester High School, Winchester
Dominique Gibson (9-12)
11th grade, Batavia High School, Aurora
Ashley Long (9-12)
12 grade, Riverdale High School, Port Byron
Secretary White also announced the launch of a new Organ and Tissue Donor Program teachers resource page on his website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com. The site will include information sheets, puzzles and coloring pages which teachers can use to inform students of all ages about organ donation. It will also permit teachers to order video tapes and curricula free of charge and to request speakers on organ and tissue donation.
