Gallatin County student among winners of organ/tissue donor poster contest

SPRINGFIELD - Gallatin County High School senior Elizabeth Martin was one of four winners statewide in an organ/tissue donor poster contest sponsored by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

White honored four Illinois students who were the winners of the 22nd Biennial Organ/Tissue Donor Poster Contest at a ceremony in his Springfield office on Saturday.

Winners were selected from four age groups: grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. The four winning poster designs were chosen from hundreds of entries sent in by students throughout Illinois. The poster contest is sponsored by the Secretary of State and Donate Life Illinois, which is made up of donation and transplantation organizations that work together to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation in Illinois.

"I would like to congratulate each of our winners as well as all the students who designed posters," White said. "These students displayed their artistic talents while also helping raise awareness for a lifesaving program."

Currently, there are more than 6.4 million people registered to become organ/tissue donors in Illinois. However, nearly 5,000 are on the waiting list and about 300 people die each year waiting for an organ transplant. One donor can save or greatly improve up to 25 lives.

The overall winner was Jada Andrews, a third-grader at Providence St. Mel School in Chicago. Jada received a certificate of congratulations, a personalized Illinois Blue Book and a $100 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble from Donate Life Illinois for designing the best poster in the state.

"I want to congratulate Jada for designing this year's top poster," White said. "Her poster will be used to help promote organ and tissue donation as we proudly display copies of it in Secretary of State Drivers' Service facilities, hospitals, libraries and other locations throughout Illinois."

Students who won in the remaining categories each received a $50 gift certificate for Barnes and Noble from Donate Life Illinois, a certificate of congratulations and a personalized Illinois Blue Book.

Winners of each age category for this year's organ and tissue donor poster contest are:

K-2nd grade category: Olivia Stevens, second grade, age 8, Herrin Elementary School, Herrin

3rd-5th grade category (and overall winner): Jada Andrews, 3rd grade, age 8, Providence St. Mel School, Chicago

6th-8th grade category: Grace Kahler, 7th grade, age 13, Campus Middle School for Girls, Urbana

9th-12th grade category: Elizabeth Martin, Senior, age 18, Gallatin County High School, Junction