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AMHERST - An Amherst teen's drawing was one of 13 from the state chosen for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality's 2010 calendar.

Senior Kara Trampe's drawing of a 1960s hippie throwing paper into a recycling bin will be the illustration for one month of the DEQ "Nebraska: Don't Waste It!" calendar.

"The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has an annual contest, and Ms. Hansen just gave us the assignment to all the art classes to draw a picture for the calendar," Trampe said, referring to Amherst art teacher Dana Hansen.

"We had to draw hands in one of our earlier projects, and I drew a hand doing a peace sign, so then I drew a hippie. For about a month or so in art class I was just drawing hippies, so I just drew a hippie for the calendar, too," Trampe said.

This is the fourth year DEQ has sponsored the statewide art contest focusing on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

Each month, the calendar will feature one of the 12 winning environmental posters. A 13th winner's artwork will provide the cover for the calendar.

Trampe and the other winners were honored at an Aug. 13 ceremony in Lincoln that included Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy and DEQ Director Mike Linder.

Linder said he continues to be impressed with the number and quality of contest submissions from across the state.

"Each year, we have received hundreds of entries from students all across the state. This year, we received more than 1,750 entries, so it was especially difficult for us to choose 13 winners. These winning entries not only demonstrate the winners' artistic talent, but they also convey important messages about the need to protect our environment," he said.

Trampe said she was surprised and excited when she learned her drawing had been one of 13 winners and would be included in the 2010 calendar.

"I was sitting at a track meet just sitting in a tent and my mom was like, 'Ms. Hansen is on the phone.' I was like, 'What?' Ms. Hansen was like, 'Your hippie picture got picked for the calendar!' It was pretty cool," she said.

Trampe said she prefers drawing with graphite pencils or oil pastels and usually draws "cartoon-type things, more abstract things and whimsical."

She said she has enjoyed art and drawing since she was a small child.

"I just really love it," she said. "It'll always be a hobby of mine, something I'll always do."

Hansen said she saw artistic potential in Trampe early on. "Oh, for sure. She has the skill, and she's very creative. Kara can do a lot with art."

e-mail to:

betsy.friedrich@kearneyhub.com

TO GET A CALENDAR

Copies of the "Nebraska: Don't Waste It!" calendar are available by contacting the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality at P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, or by sending an e-mail request to NDEQ.moreinfo@ nebraska.gov

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