2005 TROUT STAMP DESIGNED BY POMPTON PLAINS STUDENT
(04/81) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced that the winner of New Jersey's first Young Artist
Trout Stamp Contest is a Passaic County student who penciled
a colorful representation of a trout leaping out of the
water to catch a fly.
Ognjen Topic, 18, of Pompton Plains, will see his artwork
published on more than 70,000 official New Jersey trout
stamps for the 2005 freshwater-fishing season. Topic is
majoring in advertising and design at the Passaic County
Technical Institute's School of Communications Arts, and
plans to attend college to study both fine art and commercial
art.
"We are proud to play a role in fostering the creativity
of young artists while we promote the Garden State's great
recreational fishing opportunities," Campbell said.
"I would like to congratulate Ognjen and thank all
the talented young artists who participated in this contest."
Chosen from more than 300 entries, Topic's drawing features
the breaching trout framed by a swirling sky in shades of
blue and green and a rocky riverbed. The artwork will appear
on New Jersey's 2005 trout stamp, a required purchase for
trout anglers between the ages of 16 and 69. Proceeds from
stamp sales fund New Jersey's trout-stocking program.
Topic also won $1,000, donated by Trout Unlimited and the
Partnership for Youth and Conservation, which joined DEP
as contest co-sponsors. Representatives from the three organizations
and the wildlife art community judged entries. Selection
of the winning entry was based upon originality, execution
and relevance to New Jersey trout fishing.
To view the winning stamp, go to:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/stampwinner05.htm
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