Article published Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Local girl's drawing reels in a prize Wildlife group's state fish art contest By BRIDGET THARP BLADE STAFF WRITER
Perrysburg Junior High School student Genna Liu was honored recently for her entry in a national youth art contest sponsored by the conservation group Wildlife Forever.
Genna, 12, was selected as a winner of the State Fish Art Contest, which requires children in three age groups to render their state's official fish and write a short research report. About 2,100 entries from across the country were considered.
She entered after learning about the contest through her private art teacher, but Genna said she couldn't wait to share the good news at school.
"I couldn't believe it," she said. "I told my science teacher and my art teacher and my math teacher."
Genna won the prize for her age group in Ohio with her colored pencil drawing of a walleye, and was recognized last month during a ceremony at the Mall of America in Minnesota. Her drawing was displayed at the mall along with winners from other states, and she was given a special fishing pole with gear and tickets to a baseball game with her family.
After the ceremony, the winners participated in educational workshops at a nature preserve that involved spotting wildlife, art activities, and fishing lessons.
Genna said she especially enjoyed the new fishing gear and that she and her dad will put it to use in the Maumee River.
"I'm dying to try it out. It looks so cool, so professional," she said.
Her parents were thrilled.
"We were kind of surprised, because its the first time she's getting into the fish contest," Genna's dad, Jiang Liu, said. "It was just kind of for fun, and we really didn't expect it, that she would win first place."
Her dad said she first showed interest in art at four years old when she started sketching cartoon animals. The Liu family was still living in Beijing and encouraged her interest by enrolling her in an art class for youngsters.
The family moved to Perrysburg two years ago, for Mr. Liu's job as an assistant professor and researcher in the department of medicine at the University of Toledo.
She learned basic English in school in China, but studied the language with a private tutor after school. Initially she needed a speaking electronic dictionary to help her communicate with classmates, she said.
"It was kind of hard at first," Genna said. "But my dad had this friend and she kind of had a daughter the same age."
Now, Genna is a busy seventh grader who spends her spare time playing on the volleyball team, learning martial arts, and sketching for her private art lessons. Genna said she wants to be a math or science teacher when she grows up, but she'll hang on to art as a hobby.
"When I grow up I want to be an artist - not a professional artist, just part time, like when I get bored I could draw," she said. Permanent Link
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