Petty Officer 2nd Class Salinas finished her duties aboard Coast Guard Cutter Nemo and eagerly headed to the mess deck for dinner, already looking forward to the great meal prepared by the cutter’s cook, Petty Officer 1st Class Robinson.
Finding an open seat, she started to scarf down her meal, but noticed something green and tree-like in one of the corners of her tray. “Eww, broccoli!” she muttered to herself as she shoveled it across the tray with a fork.
She had never been a big fan of eating her vegetables. She picked up her tray and made her way to the trash can, ready to discard the uneaten greens. Just as she was about to dump the broccoli, the ship’s PA system crackled to life:
“Hey there, Coasties! Remember not to throw away your leftover vegetables. Donate your broccoli to our fuel crew. Your uneaten veggies help to run our ships. Remember: We can be greener, together!”
Broccoli is the future of greener shipping.
This is the vision set forth by one sixth grader who participated in the 2022 Student Art Contest sponsored by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American States (CIP-OAS).
This year’s theme was “New Technologies for Greener Shipping.” Entrants were asked to creatively depict emerging technologies that support green shipping and sustainability. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade throughout the Americas and the Caribbean conveyed this theme by painting and sketching images of broccoli fuel, wind turbines, and solar panels.
Out of numerous submissions, two grand prize winners and 10 finalists were selected. The Coast Guard is excited to announce Madeleine L. — an eighth grader from Cupertino, California — and Nathan B. — a first grader from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada — as the grand prize winners.
They will each receive a certificate, a cash prize of $100, and a Coast Guard prize package. All finalists will also receive a certificate and, along with the grand prize winners, be featured in a 2023 calendar showcasing their artwork.
Each poster will also be publicly displayed at Coast Guard Headquarters’ Partnership in Education wall in Washington, D.C., throughout the year.
We would like to congratulate all of the young artists who participated this year. Coast Guard families with children in kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to participate next year.
For more information about the annual Student Art Contest, please email Juan Torres or visit the North American Marine Environment Protection Association website.
In the news:
Young artists spotlight the vital role of seafarers in the 2021 Student Art Contest