TIDE heartily thanks the participants and supporters of

 TIDE at Ten activities.

The 1st Annual National

MISS CONSERVATION COMPETITION

The first Miss Conservation, Loretha Logan and her supporters

which took place at Fr. Ring Parish Hall, Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize, C.A.

on the 23rd November 2007, 7:00 p.m.

This new competition was created and coordinated by Mrs. Angelica Chavarria Williams, Program Assistant for TIDE, in celebration of the organization’s tenth anniversary.

The event was designed to educate the general public, especially our youth, about the great work being done by conservation organizations throughout Belize.  Each contestant was sponsored by a different conservation organization from their home town to showcase what each organization is doing to protect our environment.  The successful show demonstrated how our youth can portray the work of the organizations with great creativity and passion.

The show was a huge success as the audience learned about the inspiring work being carried out in the Districts of Toledo, Stann Creek, Belize, Cayo and Corozal. 

Here are the results of the 1st Annual Ms. Conservation Competition:

Winner – First Place

• Ms. Loretha Logan of Independence High School, representing Friends of Nature, Stann Creek District.

Ms. Logan earned the top prize of $1,000 to be used towards her Associates Degree!

Second Place

• Ms. Alda Melita Ramirez of Julian Cho Technical High School, representing Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Toledo District.

Ms. Ramirez earned $700 towards her Associates Degree!

Third Place

• Ms. Yassiri Cruz of Edward P. York High School, representing Belize Audubon Society, Belize District.

Ms. Cruz earned $500 towards her Associates Degree!

4. Ms. Elvita Choco of Toledo Community College, representing the Earthwatch Institute      Belize Regional Initiative, Toledo District.

            Ms. Choco earned $200 towards her Associates Degree!

5. Ms. Theresa Pop, graduate of the Julian Cho Technical High School, representing Ya’axche Conservation Trust, Toledo District.

            Ms. Pop earned $200 towards her Associates Degree!

6. Ms. Veronica Ayala of Belize School of Agriculture, representing Programme for Belize, Belize District.

            Ms. Ayala earned $200 towards her Associates Degree!

We wish to congratulate all of the contestants for the hard work they put in getting ready for the event.  You have all demonstrated that you are winners by your dedication to the cause!

The Judges for the competition were:

Mrs. Sharon Perera, Protected Areas Conservation Trust, Belmopan

Dr. Philip Morgan, University of Belize – Toledo Campus, Toledo District

Ms. Jenny Ethiene, Belize Council for the Visually Impaired, Toledo District

Tabulators

Alaine Nunez, Business Information Services and Systems, Toledo District

Brenda Guy, Belize Bank Limited, Toledo District

Door Prize Winners

Lionel Requena of Toledo won a kayak trip for six (6) persons to explore the Rio Grande River TIDETours and TIDE’s Private Lands. Congratulations Lionel!

Keenan Moguel, a student of the Independence High School, won a boat trip for five (5) persons to the Port Honduras Marine Reserve in Toledo (co-managed by TIDE).

The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) congratulates and extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to the candidates, the NGO’s and audience for making the first ever Miss Conservation Competition a success.  The next competition is scheduled for early 2009.