Santiago LaRochelle, a ninth grade student at the Las Vegas Academy, took home "Best of Show" for a second year in a row at this year's Junior Duck Stamp art competition on Thursday. His acrylic painting of a Canvasback duck will represent Nevada at the national competition on April 22.
LaRochelle's painting received top honors after a day-long judging session at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The winner of the national contest will have their design made into the 2016-2017 Federal Junior Duck Stamp.
The Canvasback painting was one of 611 entries to this year's Nevada competition. In 2015 LaRoschelle won "Best of Show" for his acrylic painting of a Redhead duck, beating out 411 young Nevada artists
“We were thrilled to see an increase of nearly 50 percent this year in the number of entries from throughout the state,” said Nevada Coordinator Christy Smith. “Nevada is loaded with talented young people and we hope to involve many more of them in next year’s Junior Duck Stamp art competition.” Smith manages the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic art and science program designed to teach wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school and help reconnect youth with the outdoors. In Nevada, the program is facilitated by the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Las Vegas
