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  NorthbrookStar  
      July 10, 2008  
 
 
  Northbrook student wins second annual Metra safety poster contest  
         
 
     By Jessica Cantarelli/Courtesy of a press release by Meghan Wiemerslage/Republica Group

      Metra announced today the winners of its second annual safety poster contest designed to promote railroad safety practices to students ages K-12 throughout the six-county Northeastern Illinois region. The first place winners from the Northwest suburbs are Natalie Lindquist of Lincoln Elementary School for third grade and Dominique Bloink of Northbrook Junior High School for seventh grade. Shaylene McCue of Antioch Elementary School won third place for sixth grade.

      The transit agency received more than 1,500 entries from more than 100

     “We are so pleased that our judging panel took time from their busy schedules to participate because they recognize the importance of reinforcing safety rules to help keep our children safe around trains,” said Pagano. “School administrators and teachers are to be commended for also taking the time to engage students in discussions on safety and making rail road rules part of their lesson plans.”

      First, second and third place winners were chosen from each grade level. The first place winners received a new laptop. The second and third place winners received $250 and $100 gift cards respectively.

schools throughout the region marking significant growth and momentum in Metra’s already aggressive safety campaign efforts. As a result, Metra was recently recognized by the Illinois Safety Council as the recipient of this year’s Safety Public Outreach Award.

      “This year’s contest has been an overwhelming success with participation from every county in the region,” said Philip A. Pagano, Executive Director of Metra. “Not only have the students shown extraordinary talent and creativity in their poster design, but most importantly, they have also exhibited tremendous leadership in articulating the importance of railroad safety to their peers.”

      The theme of this year’s safety poster contest, “Play it Safe: Look, Listen, and Live,” was chosen to recognize the importance of fundamental safety behaviors that people should commit to around trains and railroad tracks.

      The first place winning poster designs will be featured in more than 2,000 schools in the region throughout the year to encourage safety around trains. The designs will also be pictured on Metra’s monthly commuter tickets, featured in Metra’s annual safety calendar, and displayed in Metra train stations throughout Northeastern Illinois.

    This year’s judging panel, made up of local government officials, emergency responders, representatives from safety advocacy groups, members of the media and Metra representatives, judged each poster based on creativity, originality and appropriate representation of the contest theme.

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The following participants were chosen as the contest’s first place winners:

  • Demetrius Pappas, Kindergarten,
    Cambridge Lakes Charter School
  • Shintaro Dee, First Grade,
    Central Park Elementary School
  • Giovanny Alexis Rodriguez, Second Grade,
    Avondale Elementary School
  • Natalie Lindquist, Third Grade,
    Lincoln Elementary School
  • Cecilia Pappas, Fourth Grade,
    Cambridge Lakes Charter School
  • Rosalba Herrera, Fifth Grade,
    Currier Elementary School
  • Reynaldo Rodriguez, Sixth Grade,
    Logandale Middle School
  • Dominique Bloink, Seventh Grade,
    Northbrook Junior High School
  • Leighann Baxa, Eighth Grade,
    Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School
  • Heather Kuipers, Ninth Grade,
    Lincoln-Way East High School
  • Tim Tucker, Tenth Grade,
    Beecher High School
  • Harrison Kuykendall, Eleventh Grade,
    Cary-Grove High School
  • Emily Harvey, Twelfth Grade,
    Cary-Grove High School