Earth Day 2003 was celebrated nationally on Tuesday, April 22. As part of the Earth Day Celebration, the UMC Concerts & Lectures Committee sponsored a poster contest. Students who have specific interests in topics which are of an environmental concern prepared a short report in the form of poster

Topics ranged from sustainable energy sources such as wind or biomass to habitat restoration techniques to pros and cons of organic farming techniques to threatened plant/animal species or topics related to the human impact on the environment.

Jerry Knutson's Biology class dove right in. Several of his students took topics that were related to what they were learning in their Biology class and created a poster depicting several of the challenges facing the environment today. An example of poster topic is Chuck Hasse's concern about the spread of harmful exotic species in Minnesota lakes. Hasse's poster highlighted such lake enemies as Zebra Mussels, Round Goby, Ruffe and Eurasion Watermilfoil. He also offered tips on how to stop the spread of exotics.

Of course, each student who entered the contest had their eye on winning the $75 prize. However, the poster topics were close to many of the students' hearts. The time that students took painting and pasting is evident in the posters. Pride shines through each poster when you look at the research the students put into the topics

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After the posters were judged, the posters made their way around Crookston. Several of Knutson's students presented their posters at the local schools. The posters were hung in classrooms as the kids went around and read the posters. Other posters were placed around town in local businesses. Look for Hasse's exotic species poster Ceason's, a small bait shop in Crookston.