Tangier Smith Elementary School fourth grader Daniel Guaman Macias has been named the first-place winner for grades 3-5 in the Town of Brookhaven’s second annual “Brookhaven Recycles” Poster Contest. As a result, he was also recognized as the William Floyd “Artist of the Month” by Fine Arts chairperson Theresa Bianco.
Daniel received recognition at the November 20 Town of Brookhaven Board Meeting, where he was presented with a framed version of his winning poster and a certificate from the town. His artwork is currently displayed at Brookhaven Town Hall and featured on the Town of Brookhaven’s website, social media channels, and in the winter edition of the Green Gazette newsletter.
The contest invited students from kindergarten through twelfth grade to submit posters that encourage reducing, reusing, and recycling. This year’s themes were “Choose to Reuse” and “Recycle Right.” Daniel chose the “Recycle Right” theme for his entry, which illustrated Curby, the town’s recycling mascot, collecting recyclable litter.
This marks the second consecutive year that a student from William Floyd has been selected as a winner in this contest; last year, a student from William Floyd Learning Center won second place in its inaugural edition.
Daniel’s art teacher Sandra Bretton commented on his achievement: “Daniel is a hardworking student who comes to art each week with a smile on his face, ready to get to work. His enthusiasm for art is evident by the creativity he displays in his artwork; he is not afraid to take risks and add a little something extra to whatever the assignment may be.” She added that both she and the Tangier Smith Elementary School community are proud of Daniel’s accomplishments.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico congratulated all winners: “These young artists used their creativity to highlight ‘Choose to Reuse’ and ‘Recycle Right,’ inspiring our community to protect the planet. The bright minds of this generation are the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow.”