Calendar Highlights Kids’ Talents in First Annual Kirtland Warbler Festival’s Poster Art Contest

 

In 2003, Kirtland Community College published its first annual Kirtland’s Warbler Festival Young Artists Calendar featuring art produced by area youngsters.

The 16-month calendar, free to the public, displays colorful pictures created by 47 students whose work was selected by a panel of judges from nearly 150 entries representing several area schools.

The college had planned to charge $5 for the calendars, but officials decided to make it available for no charge for several reasons.

“A lot of hard work from a lot of people in this community – most of them volunteers – has helped to transform the Kirtland’s Warbler Festival into a premier event among birders and naturists who visit our area from all over the country to see the bird during our annual festival in May,” said Kirtland marketing director Jim Enger, who serves as chairman of the Kirtland’s Warbler Festival committee. “We felt this calendar was a great way to give something back and promote the festival as one of the truly unique events in our community.

“Also, it’s a great opportunity for the college to highlight the talents of many young artists whose work helps to celebrate one of the great environmental success stories of our time – the comeback of a species that not long ago was nearly extinct.”

Kirtland also has donated about 400 calendars to the C.O.O.R. Intermediate School District so that one may hang in every K-8 classroom.

Sign up for your 2004 KWF Poster Calendar online at http://warbler.kirtland.edu. And while the calendars are free, donations will be accepted to help offset the costs of the festival, which the college has supported for years. Send donations to KWF Committee, Kirtland Community College, 10775 N. St. Helen Road, Roscommon, Mich., 48653.