Category: SpeciesOnTheEdge

For more than two decades, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey has inspired fifth graders across the state to celebrate wildlife through the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest. Each year, students combine creativity, research, and conservation awareness to highlight New Jersey’s threatened and endangered species through original artwork and essays.

This year, students representing counties throughout New Jersey submitted impressive entries that reflected both artistic talent and a deep understanding of wildlife conservation. Participants selected a wide range of species to feature in their projects, showcasing the incredible diversity of wildlife found throughout the Garden State.

To enter the contest, students created an original piece of artwork and wrote an essay about a threatened, endangered, or special concern species, describing its habitat, challenges, and the importance of protecting it for future generations. Entries featured many remarkable species, from marine wildlife and migratory birds to reptiles, amphibians, and mammals native to New Jersey.

A panel of judges, including CWF biologists and conservation professionals, carefully reviewed each submission. Judges evaluated the creativity and quality of the artwork and essays, along with the accuracy of the species representation and conservation information. After thoughtful consideration, one winner and one runner-up were selected from each participating county.

We are grateful to our contest sponsors Atlantic City Electric, Church & Dwight, and Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery.

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2026 Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest and celebrate the outstanding efforts of all participating students, parents, teachers, and schools who helped make this year’s contest a success.

Atlantic County

First Place: Karsyn Priestley (Belhaven Middle School)

Second Place: Avalon Rendfrey (Belhaven Middle School)

Bergen County

First Place: Grace Lian (Manito Elementary School)

Second Place: Celine Cho (East Brook Middle School)

Camden County

First Place: Thomas Mohen (Homeschool)

Second Place: Hirva Patel (Mary E. Volz Middle School)

Cape May County

First Place: Chloe Cooper (Crest Memorial School)

Second Place: Avery Shapiro (Crest Memorial School)

Essex County

First Place: Samuel Aronoff (Yantacaw Elementary School)

Second Place: Arnav Mahajan (Yantacaw Elementary School)

Gloucester County

First Place: Leila Pacheco (J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School)

Second Place: Mira Gale (J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School)

Hudson County

First Place: Noreen Abdelmonem (Miftaahul Uloom Academy)

Second Place: Bhavya Golellu (Golden Door Charter School)

Hunterdon County

First Place: Emerson Pringle (Thomas B. Conley Elementary School)

Second Place: Reilly W. Evangelista (East Amwell Township School)

Mercer County

First Place: Alexander Ren (Stony Brook Elementary School)

Second Place: Riaan Puhan (Stony Brook Elementary School)

Middlesex County

First Place: Anthony Yurkovic (Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School)

Second Place: Isabella Osorio (Greater Brunswick Charter School)

Monmouth County

First Place: Emma Smith (Manasquan Elementary School)

Second Place: Shane Shelly (Manasquan Elementary School)

Morris County

First Place: Juha Lee (Valley View Elementary School)

Ocean County

First Place: Grady Pearsall (Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School)

Second Place: Delaney Fitzgerald (Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School)

Salem County

First Place: Lila Jusko (Creativity CoLaboratory Charter)

Second Place: Anderson Ale (Creativity CoLaboratory Charter)

Somerset County

First Place: Beverly Medina (School of Saint Elizabeth)

Second Place: Charlotte Yang (Mount Horeb Elementary School)

Sussex County

First Place: Violet Csencsits (Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School)

Second Place: Imanol Cornejo (Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School)

Union County

First Place: Noelle Mendoza (St. Theresa School)

Second Place: Nyah Harris (St. Theresa School)

Warren County

First Place: Hazel Ochs (Ridge and Valley Charter School)

Second Place: Bayla Philips Moraa (Memorial Elementary School)

 

On Monday, July 14, the first of two groups of winners of Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s 2025 ‘s Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest had the chance to visit Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center with  New Jersey Fish and Wildlife  (NJFW). These fifth-grade students and their family members were in for an exciting day full of marshland activities and hands-on wildlife education.

The morning started with a boat ride on Barnegat Bay from Island Beach State Park to Sedge Island, which is closed to the public and only accessible through NJFW programs.

After docking in front of the Sedge House, a century-old old building which once served as a duck hunting lodge, everyone was invited on a tour of the property. There, the staff told the story of Sedge Island, from its earliest history to the modern day.

Once the visitors had settled in, it was time for a kayak adventure through the marsh.

The students got to paddle through New Jersey’s unique marshland ecosystem, stopping every so often to learn from NJFW’s staff about the wildlife that surrounded them. Ospreys, American oystercatchers, and even a bald eagle made an appearance, along with a myriad of shellfish in the water below.

While kayaking, a staff member collected a male Northern diamondback terrapin. When they returned to shore, students were invited to help collect data on the terrapin, from measuring the length of the shell to counting the scutes.

After the turtle had been tagged, it was set free back into the bay.

Families were then free to enjoy the sights and sounds of the island along with their lunches before heading to the next activity: Clamming.

Off the Western shore of Sedge Island, little neck clams abound. Students were able to tread through the dirt, collecting clams as they went.

Afterwards, the students sorted the clams by size and, after learning about clamming regulations and the importance of conservation, sent the larger ones back into the bay.

 

The ones they did keep, though, had another purpose.

Back at the house, the group participated in a clam dissection, learning about clam anatomy and their water-filtering abilities. Then, the remaining clams were put on the grill and everyone got to enjoy the fruits of their work in the bay.

Soon, it was time to get back on the boats and return to the mainland. As they made their way across the water, the group spotted schools of fish, flocks of gulls, and a couple of rays, all coming together to create the beautiful natural harmony of the bay.

For the students and their family, it was surely a day to remember. 

Thank you to our Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest sponsors PSEG Foundation, Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery, Church & Dwight, Atlantic City Electric, and The Zoological Society of New Jersey.

For over twenty years, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey has hosted the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest, inviting fifth graders from across the state to showcase their creativity and passion for wildlife conservation. This year, students from twenty counties participated, submitting imaginative artwork and thoughtful essays focused on New Jersey’s threatened and endangered species.

To enter the contest, students created original artwork and wrote an essay about an at-risk species, exploring its challenges and conservation needs. While a variety of species were featured, the Pine Barrens tree frog stood out with numerous stunning portrayals, alongside popular choices like the humpback whale, bobcat, and green sea turtle.

A panel of judges, including CWF biologists and representatives from two of our sponsors—PSEG Foundation and Church & Dwight —carefully evaluated each submission. Judges assessed the quality of both the artwork and essays, as well as the accuracy of the species’ depiction. After much deliberation, they selected one winner and one runner-up from each participating county.

We are grateful to our contest sponsors PSEG Foundation, Church & Dwight, NJEA, Atlantic City Electric, The Zoological Society of New Jersey, and Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery.

We are thrilled to announce the first and second-place winners of the 2025 Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest.

Atlantic County:

1st Place: Sarika Sakhalkar (Belhaven Middle School)

2nd Place:  Milana Vorobeva (Belhaven Middle School)

Bergen County :

1st Place:  Lieul Lee (Northvale School)

2nd Place: John Chanwoo Lee (Upper School Elementary School)

Burlington County:

1st Place:  Axford Higginbotham (Kenneth R. Olson Middle School)

2nd Place:  Russell Czekanski (Kenneth R. Olson Middle School)

Camden County:

1st Place:  Maria Rodas Garcia (Mary E. Volz School)

2nd Place:  Chloe Lender (Mary E. Volz School)

Cape May County:

1st Place:  Emma Zweignebaum (Dennis Township Elementary School)

2nd Place:  Emery Macomber (Dennis Township Elementary School)

Essex County:

1st Place:  Tashvi Gandhi (Yantacaw Elementary school)

2nd Place:  Riya Parikh (Washington Elementary School)

Gloucester County:

1st Place:  Calliope Glassman (J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School)

2nd Place:  Michael Montanero (J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School)

Hudson County:

1st Place:  Nabiha Mgaresh-Parke (Mifftaahul Uloom Academy)

2nd Place:  Ruby Kalish (All Saints Episcopal Day School)

Hunterdon County:

1st Place:  Ali Rowe (East Amwell Township School)

2nd Place:  August Schaefer (High Bridge Middle School)

Mercer County:

1st Place:  Geordie Feller (Toll Gate Grammar School)

2nd Place:  Josie Radler (Omni World Academy)

Middlesex County:

1st Place:  Hope Nolasco (Greater Brunswick Charter School)

2nd Place:  Leo Xu (Little Fish Art Studio)

Monmouth County:

1st Place:  Aurelia Aponte (Nut Swamp Elementary School)

2nd Place:  Noah Mangone (Nut Swamp Elementary School)

Morris County:

1st Place: Michaela Mendoza (Chester M. Stephens Elementary)

2nd Place:  Abeer Tokkar (Chester M. Stephens Elementary)

 

Ocean County:  

1st Place:  Logan McGuire (Nellie F Bennett Elementary)

2nd Place:  Dominic Zinser (Nellie F Bennett Elementary)

Passaic County:

1st Place:  Vincent Botsolas (EG Hewitt Elementary School)

2nd Place:  Victoria Trayanov (Clifton Public School 9)

 

Salem County:

1st Place:  Erika Schaller (Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School)

2nd Place:  Maggie Harz (Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School)

Somerset County:

1st Place:  Amelia Aron (Mount Horeb Elementary School)

2nd Place:  Klari Jalies (School of Saint Elizabeth)

Sussex County: 

1st Place:  Amelia Eaton (Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School)

2nd Place:  Josephine Farrell (Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School)

Union County:  

1st Place:  Natalia Huaman (St. Theresa’s School)

2nd Place:  Adrian Molina Aplicano (Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School)

Warren County:

1st Place:  Autumn Calvano (Ridge and Valley Charter School)

2nd Place:  Anders Hall (Ridge and Valley Charter School)

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey is thrilled to announce the return of the redesigned Species on the Edge 2.0 contest for its second year! High school students from grades 9 to 12 across New Jersey are invited to join this exciting competition and stand a chance to win fabulous cash prizes.

Species on the Edge 2.0 isn’t just any contest—it’s a dynamic, problem-based learning project aimed at teaching students how to protect and preserve the rare and at-risk wildlife that call New Jersey home. This fun and engaging contest is the perfect opportunity for students to team up with their friends and develop real-world solutions to ensure our wildlife continues to thrive.

Participants will gain invaluable skills in STEAM, environmental advocacy, design thinking, social and emotional learning, teamwork, critical thinking, and project management. It’s an amazing chance to learn, grow, and make a real impact!

How to Join the Fun:

1. Form a team of 2 to 6 students.
2. Choose a threatened or endangered species native to New Jersey.
3. Create an awesome video to raise public awareness and propose solutions to help restore our ecosystem

 

Still images from the First and Second Place team’s videos in the 2024 contest

Participants will be amazed by how many species are currently “on the edge” in New Jersey, the nation’s most densely populated state. Registered teams will receive a contest kit with all the guidelines and are invited to attend information sessions where they’ll explore various scenarios. Each team will take on the role of a research scientist, citizen scientist, engineer, policy maker, investigative reporter, college professor, non-profit director, or environmental artist. The creativity is endless!

The Species on the Edge 2.0 contest is completely free and offers an incredible opportunity for students and facilitators to win cash prizes. To join the mission, complete the online entry form by March 3, 2025, at: https://conservewildlifenj.org/education/edge2.0/. Make sure to submit your finished videos by April 18, 2025.

Ready, set, let’s save New Jersey’s wildlife together!

 

by Rachel McGovern, Communications and Outreach Manager

Just off the coast of Island Beach State Park, you can find the Sedge Islands Marine Conservation Zone. This unique area is managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and is home to a great number of wildlife species. Across this 1,900-acre preserve, one can find ospreys, rays, Northern diamondback terrapins, American oystercatchers, and many other incredible animals. Tucked away in this area is an island with a historic building that was once a duck hunting lodge but is now the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center.

Each year, winners of the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest are invited to the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center (often referred to as simply “Sedge” or “Sedge Island”) to spend a day exploring the salt marsh. The Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest is held annually for fifth graders in New Jersey. To enter, students submit an original art piece and essay centered around an at-risk New Jersey species of their choice. A panel of judges chooses a winner from each county in New Jersey. A trip to Sedge Island is one of the ways that we celebrate the winners’ achievements. Winners of the 2024 contest and their adult chaperones were offered a choice of dates to join us for a trip to Sedge Island this summer.

Continue reading “Species on the Edge Winners Explore Sedge Island”

by Rachel McGovern, Director of Education

Winners of the 22^nd annual Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest gathered to celebrate their accomplishments at an awards ceremony on June 12, 2024, at Mercer County Wildlife Center in Lambertville, New Jersey.

The Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest is open each year to all fifth graders in New Jersey. To enter, students choose a threatened or endangered New Jersey species which they research and advocate for through an original essay and art piece. Earlier this year, a panel of judges convened to choose a first and second-place winner from each New Jersey county.

This year’s first-place winners joined CWF’s Executive Director, Liz Silvernail, and Director of Education, Rachel McGovern for their awards ceremony. Students received certificates and had their art and essays displayed for attendees to view. The winner from Mercer County (Vedika Krishna from Stony Brook Elementary School in Pennington) also received a special prize from Mercer County Park Commission’s Acting Executive Director, Joseph Pizza during the ceremony.

Continue reading “Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest Winners Gather for a Special Awards Ceremony”

by Rachel McGovern, Director of Education

For more than twenty years, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey has been organizing the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest, inviting all fifth graders in New Jersey to participate. This year marked another successful run, with an array of imaginative and captivating submissions pouring in from all twenty-one counties. Each entry examined the plight of a threatened or endangered species native to New Jersey.

To take part in the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest, students must craft an original piece of handmade artwork and compose an essay responding to a provided prompt. Both components of their submission center around a single at-risk species from New Jersey. We typically find that some species are represented more than others. This year, the golden-winged warbler stood out with numerous striking artworks spotlighting this bird. Other frequently chosen species included the blue whale, bobcat, and red-headed woodpecker.

Continue reading “2024 Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest Winners Announced”

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey recognized the winners of the 21^st annual Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest at an awards ceremony held at Mercer County Wildlife Center. The statewide educational contest empowers fifth graders to advocate for an endangered or threatened wildlife species through their research, artwork, and writing.

Continue reading “Species on the Edge Contest Winners Celebrate at Awards Ceremony”

by Rachel McGovern, Director of Education

Each year, CWF hosts the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest for fifth grade students in New Jersey. Thousands of students submit artwork and essays advocating for the protection of a threatened or endangered New Jersey species of their choice. Winners of this contest attend field trips and events during their winning year and are invited to events for years after to continue learning about wildlife and related careers in New Jersey.

Last month, a group of past contest winners braved the rain and cold to attend a special program and tour at The Raptor Trust in Millington, New Jersey. The Raptor Trust provides medical care and rehabilitation to injured and orphaned birds, leads educational programs to benefit native birds, and provides permanent homes to many non-releasable raptors.

Continue reading “Species on the Edge Contest Winners from Previous Years Visit The Raptor Trust”

by Rachel McGovern

The annual Species on the Edge Art and Essay Contest invites all fifth-grade students in New Jersey to choose a threatened or endangered animal species that lives in the state to celebrate with an essay and original art piece. We received thousands of submissions in 2022, but only one could be chosen from each county. The winners’ extraordinary artistic talent and thorough research secured their first-place positions.

An awards ceremony for those winners was held on August 23^rd. The awards ceremony brought the winners, their loved ones, and teachers out for an afternoon at the Mercer County Wildlife Center. The ceremony took place outdoors near animal enclosures that hold non-releasable wildlife- some of the birds were even calling throughout the ceremony! Winners received their certificates and a gift bag to commemorate their achievements.

Continue reading “Species on the Edge Contest Winners Celebrate at Awards Ceremony”