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NOAA's partner, Coastal America through their Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center (CELC) members are sponsoring an ocean art contest open to students in grades K-12 and college and university students The contest is nationwide, and for the Mid-Atlantic Region, The National Aquarium in DC and the National Aquarium in Baltimore are accepting entries. (Coastal America Art Contest, c/o Joe Harber, Director of Education Programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 501 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21203-3194). For other areas of the country, please refer to the CELC near you which can be found at: www.coastalamerica.gov.

The purpose of the contest is to enhance public awareness of the importance of the ocean through visual expression and incorporating one of the principles of ocean literacy.

The winning artwork will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in time for the opening of The Ocean Hall. You and your children or local schools or organizations can be a part of this contest. Find out how at: http://www.coastalamerica.gov/2008artcontest.html.

Entries are due by May 30, 2008. Please forward this message to anyone who may be interested in this contest.