Ninth grader Taylor de Don’s colorful design of ocean life picking up debris has won the poster contest for the upcoming Broward County Waterway Cleanup. The South Broward High School student also gets a $500 scholarship along with having her submitted artwork emblazoned on the event’s official poster and promotional materials, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), which sponsors the annual cleanup.

This year’s Waterway Cleanup kicks-off March 6 with its usual multiple sites located around the county, where volunteers deposit trash they pick up from waterways and riverbanks.

The event’s first poster contest was open to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Thirteen of them submitted entries that were judged by professional artists, including Steve Diossy, Danielle Perry and Guy Harvey.

The judges praised all entries, emphasizing how impressed they were with the overall focus on ocean cleanup.

Plastic debris is a particular concern for the damage it causes to sea life.

“The mahi cleaning up a six-pack plastic ring is great, since so many ani- mals are killed or hurt by such rings,” said Diossy in his comments on why he voted for Taylor’s submission.

“I especially love how the sailfish is using its bill to clean up soda cans,” he said.

Perry also approved of the winning entry’s message concerning plastic debris.

“The focus on ocean clean-up, especially plastic debris is great, as so many vulnerable loggerhead sea turtles eat plastic bags thinking they are jellyfish.”

She also praised the winner’s artistic composition, noting the brush strokes, clear message and simple design.

“MIASF is grateful to all Broward students who submitted entries for this first event, and we look forward to making this an annual contest,” said Nicole Hoekstra, events coordinator at MIASF.

For more information, call 954-524-2733, or email info@miasf.org. You can also visit: www.waterwaycleanup.org to see artwork submitted by other students.