Department of Tourism
For Immediate Release: Nov. 7, 2001
Contact: Mary Stadick Smith, (605) 773-3301

TOURISM ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ESSAY AND PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTS

Nine South Dakotans will share $1,800 in prize money in the South Dakota Department of Tourism’s World War II Essay and Photo Contests. The contests were held in conjunction with the dedication of the new World War II Memorial in Pierre.

Shantel Albrecht, a student at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary in De Smet, took first place in the Essay Contest, which was open to fourth-grade students statewide. She received $300 for her essay "What Was South Dakota’s Role in WWII?"

Sean Bogue, a student at Faith Elementary in Faith, received $200 for his second-place entry in the Essay Contest. Todd Suurmeyer, a student at McKinley Elementary in Watertown, took the third-place prize of $100.

The Photo Contest included two age categories, 8-18 and 19 and up. Samantha Clark of Pierre took first place in the ages 8-18 category. She received $300 for her photograph of a young boy standing beside the memorial. The second-place prize of $200 went to Russ Sly of Rapid City, and the third-place prize of $100 went to Morgan J. Uhrig of Newell.

In the ages 19 and up category, Joan Parker of Arlington won first place and $300 for her dramatic black-and-white photograph of the unveiling of the new memorial. Terry Duncan of Onida, the second-place winner, took second place and $200. And Cris M. Allen of New Underwood took third place and $100.

The winning essays and photographs can be viewed online at www.sdwwiimemorial.com.

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