Iverson Menjivar Quintanilla is a talented young man. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School eighth grader was honored for the award winning poster he created for this year’s Protect Our Watersheds contest co-sponsored by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the New York Water Environment Association.
This year’s contest was focused on “what you do at your home and in your community affects everyone downstream of you.” The initiative is designed to “encourage students to learn about their role in the watershed they live in and how to conserve and protect our water resources, now and for future generations.”
The contest was open to students in grades six, seven and eight across the state. Mr. Menjivar Quintanilla was among 14 finalists honored. The group’s posters will be featured in a 2022 calendar.
The Finley eighth grader is an imaginative and creative young man with artistic talent and an artist’s flair. Mr. Menjivar Quintanilla has worked closely with Finley art teacher Dena Mortell. The teenager proudly posed for a photo while holding his poster and his state certificate.
“Human activities leave behind materials like pesticides, pet waste, trash and even loose soil that can wash into our waters and pollute them,” according to a contest overview meant to guide students participating in the contest. “There are lots of actions that people can take to protect water—proper fertilizer application, septic tank maintenance, planting vegetation along the shoreline (buffer), clean up pet waste, plant rain gardens, pump-out boats properly, and help prevent sewage spills (don’t dump fats or grease; don’t flush diapers, baby wipes or personal hygiene products).”