Student creativity shines in 15th annual Invasive Species Poster Contest

Talk about a win to be proud of — James Williams Middle School student Charlotte Halada’s poster alerting viewers to the Japanese Beetle was judged the Best of Show in the 2026 Northwoods Invasive Species Poster Contest!

Hosted by the Oneida County Land & Water Conservation Department and open to every fourth to eight-grader in Wisconsin, this year’s 15th annual poster contest is an opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and knowledge of any aquatic, terrestrial and/or wetland invasive species impacting Wisconsin’s land and waters, and to help stop their spread.

This was a record year, with 676 posters received from 38 teachers in 45 classes representing 29 schools located in 15 counties. They were judged by three judges with backgrounds in art, science and natural resources.

Students in each of the four divisions competed for First, Second, and Third Place trophies, Honorable Mention and Best Slogan ribbons, and one Best of Show Ribbon. Every First Place winner’s class will receive a Classroom Trophy! 

The posters will be displayed at the Oneida County Courthouse until the end of June.

Fourth Grade

First Place: Gabriel Quella, Riverview Elementary, teacher Brian Freitag

Second Place: Scarlett Olson, Pelican Elementary, teacher Susan Jurries

Third Place: Eleanor Seubert, Pelican Elementary, teacher Susan Jurries

Honorable Mentions: Finley Besonen, Solon Springs, teacher Becky Semborski; Kenzley Wakely, Pelican Elementary, teacher Susan Jurries; Aspyn Flann, Pelican Elementary, teacher Susan Jurries; Clara Vang, Maple Grove Charter School, teacher Jessica Garvin; Calvin Wolter, Hayward Intermediate School, teacher Brenda Wisner.

Fifth Grade

First Place: Ada Posey, Bayfield Elementary, teacher Kerrey Andreas

Second Place: Roni Pritchard, Arbor Vitae/Woodruff School, teacher Krysten Hintz

Third Place: Amelia Kielcheski, Wausaukee Elementary, teacher Sarah Ludwig

Honorable Mentions: Ava Unger, Wausaukee Elementary, teacher Sarah Ludwig; Natalie Newingham, Wausaukee Elementary School, teacher Sarah Ludwig; Zyauna Gordon, Bayfield Elementary, teacher Kerrey Andreas.

Sixth Grade

First Place: Bae Coleman, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

Second Place: Delaney Darton, Home School, teacher Jenny Darton

Third Place: Aviendha Manz, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

Honorable Mentions: Vayda Peltier, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson; Kya Maul, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson; Cassidy Josephson, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson;  Freya Markley, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson; Bailey Mayo, Sugar Camp Elementary, teacher Katie Bauknecht; Brooklynn Potack, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy; Maddie Kohler, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy; Glorianna Shumate, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy; Avery Stevenson, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy.

Seventh and Eighth Grades

First Place and BEST OF SHOW: Charlotte Halada (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher Kim Bowman

Second Place: Miley Golomb (8), Elcho Middle School, teacher Colette Fritz

Third Place: Helina Gurskey (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher McKenzie Durr

Honorable Mentions: Raelynn Perlberg (7), Nativity of Our Lord School, teacher Jaclyn Brice; Eliza Halada (7), James Williams Middle School, teacher Ben Quade; Marley Meyer (7), James Williams Middle School, teacher Ben Quade; Addyson Weber (7), Crandon Middle School, teacher Emily Maule; Lydia Rosio (7), Peace Lutheran/Antigo, teacher Julie Oetting; Quinn Williams (8), Nativity of Our Lord School, teacher Jaclyn Brice; Kambrea Anderson (8), Flambeau School District, teacher Carol Kazmierkoski; Emma Zimmer (8), Flambeau School District, teacher Carol Kazmierkoski;  Savannah Gustafson (8), Three Lakes Junior High, teacher Hannah Rietz.

Teacher Winner

McKenzie Durr, James Williams Middle School, Rhinelander ($25 gift card).

Slogan Winners – Fourth Grade

“Beward! The Round Goby May Be There!” – Ariel Sharon, Pelican Elementary, teacher Susan Jurries

“Don’t Let Them Stay. Take Them Away — The Cane Toad” – Jameson Negron, Pelican Elementary, teacher Nicole Lucas

“Have You Ever Thought That Our Neighbor Is an Invader?” – Cayson Cyrtmus, Maple Grove Charter School, teacher Jessica Garvin

“The Forget-Me-Not Should Not Be Forgotten When it’s Gone” – Clara Vang, Maple Grove Charter School, teacher Jessica Garvin

“Rusty Isn’t Too Old for a Crayfish” – Harrison Nieft, Wabeno Elementary School, teacher Eleanor Deer

“No More Rusty Craw Cause He’s Breakin’ the Law!” – Stella Kramer, Peace Lutheran/Antigo, teacher Gabby Sorano

“Make Those Bad Borers Burrow Back” – Calvin Wolter, Hayward Intermediate, teacher Brenda Wisner.

Slogan Winners – Fifth Grade

“Clean, Drain, Dry. That’s The Way To Say Goodbye” – Chase Smoczyk, Nativity of Our Lord, teacher Angelina Hanson

“Don’t Let the Yellow Iris Spread Like a Virus” – Gwyen Peters, Nativity of Our Lord, teacher Angelina Hanson

“The Rudd is a Dud!” – Braxton Lafernier, Bayfield Elementary School, teacher Kerrey Andreas

“Take the Life of a Purple Loosestrife” – Riley Berquist, Arbor Vitae/Woodruff School, teacher Krysten Hintz.

Slogan Winners – Sixth Grade

“The Starling is no Star’ – Aviendha Manz, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

“Check the Sign, Get Rid of the Swine” – Freya Markley, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

“Be a Hero, Transport Zero” – Honor Lindahl, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

“Don’t be a Borer, Protect the Trees from Emerald Ash Borer” – Lydia Buckmaster, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

“Turn off the Lanternfly!” – Bae Coleman, Northwestern Middle School, teacher Kraig Anderson

“Say Bye to the Fish That Fly” – Teddy Zobro, Pulaski Community Middle School, teacher Dave Landers

“Stop the Flop!” –Joshua Folkman, Pulaski Community Middle School, teacher Dave Landers

“Stop the Prickle – Pull The Thistle!” –Charlyze Woelfel, Pulaski Community Middle School, teacher Dave Landers

“Don’t be Grungy Let’s Get Rid of Spongy” – Heidi Zemple, Pulaski Community Middle School, teacher Dave Landers

“Water Lettuce, Not Your Average Salad” –Kaleb Liebscher, Sugar Camp Elementary School, teacher Katie Bauknecht

“Don’t Move a Mussel”  – Blake Lamoureux, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy

“Jump Less – Live More, Keep Silver Carp Out”  – Glorianna Shumate, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy, Teacher

“Pinch, Peel, Eat, Repeat”  – Aiyanna Baker, Hayward Middle School, teacher Shannon Judy.

Slogan Winners – Seventh and Eighth Grades

“Stop the Alewife From Ruining Your Life” – Arie Marvin (7), Nativity of Our Lord School, teacher Jaclyn Brice

“Japanese Knotweed  – Not the Weed We Need”  –  Eliza Halada (7), James Williams Middle School, teacher Ben Quade

“Sea Lamprey  – Small Mouth  – Big Impact”  – Marley Meyer (7), James Williams Middle School, teacher Ben Quade

“Garlic Mustard  – A Pesto Making Pest!”  – Jason Hanson (7), Drummond Area School, teacher Amy Morse

“They Don’t Bring Joy, Get Rid of the Koi”   – Charlotte LeClair (8), Nativity of Our Lord School, teacher Jaclyn Brice

“Battle the Buckthorn”  – Jack Congdon (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher McKenzie Durr

“Sea Lamprey Shouldn’t Live Free”     – Noella Tulowitzky (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher McKenzie Durr

“Don’t Trust the Tiger Trout When in Doubt”  – Max Howard (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher McKenzie Durr

“Rusty Crayfish  – If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Eat ‘Em!”  – Aubrey Robinson (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher Kim Bowman

“These Beetles of Copper and Green Turn Gardens into a Crime Scene”  – Charlotte Halada (8), James Williams Middle School, teacher Kim Bowman

“Make Wisconsin Native Again”  – Miley Golomb (8), Elcho Middle School, teacher Colette Fritz

“Get Rid of This Creep! Creeping Bellflower”  – Kenna Ready (8), Nativity of Our Lord School, teacher Jaclyn Brice

“They Spread Like a Virus  – Watch Out for the Yellow Iris”  –Adisyn Schoeneck (8), Three Lakes Junior High, teacher Hannah Rietz.