![Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge contest winner Marissa Ingram signs a copy of her poster during the May 21 award ceremony. [KEVIN BOYER | Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-6cd292d3-76b3-6b49-e053-0100007f48ad-f61a974b-scaled.jpeg)
MILTON — The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge will have a welcoming design on its walls thanks to a drawing done by a local 5th grader.
Central School student Marissa Ingram was among hundreds students in Santa Rosa County who entered the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Poster Contest two months ago. Each student created and submitted a unique poster of a wildlife image to the organization, which was then judged for its artistic creativity.
Ingram was chosen as the grand prize winner in the contest. As part of her reward, her poster will hang in various places in the refuge's new location being built in Navarre and Ingram herself will receive a special invitation to the new location to tour and meet the animals as well as be present at the dedication of her artwork.
“I am very proud of Merissa,” Margie Ingram, Melissa’s mother and Central School art teacher said. “She worked very hard on this.”
Ingram said that her daughter has a commitment to animal refuge, which was a big played a big part in her inspiration for her drawing.
Carol Anderson, volunteer for the ECWR, said she was impressed with Ingram’s work and her dedication to the cause.
“I was amazed at her poster,” Anderson said. “We are going to display it all over the center.”
The ECWR is a non-profit educational center for wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. Volunteers run the refuge. Funding comes solely from community donations.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County student creates face of wildlife refuge