Middle and high school students from across the state won cash prizes for themselves and their teachers in this year’s first statewide “Saving the Places You Love” student photo contest. The contest, sponsored by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC), on behalf of the state’s 23 local land trusts, and North Carolina's Touchstone Energy cooperatives, was designed to encourage students to photograph their favorite natural scenes in North Carolina and raise public awareness for the need to protect threatened natural areas.

More than 145 entries were submitted from students throughout the state. Winners were selected in three geographic region of the state (east, central, and west) from both middle schools and high schools. A prestigious panel of nine judges chose the winning photographs based on the quality of the photograph and the striking way the image depicted the beauty and character of a treasured North Carolina place.

All prizes for the contest were donated by North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives. Cash prizes were awarded to two statewide grand prize winners as well as first, second, and third place winners in each region. The sponsoring teachers of the grand prize and first place winners also received cash prizes to be used for classroom supplies. Representatives from the winning students’ local land trust and electric cooperative will present the awards to the students.

To view the winning students, their photographs, and the contest’s panel of judges, visit the photo winners page. You can help protect the natural areas that inspired these students’ photography by donating to the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and/or your local land trust. Your contribution will help ensure future students will have the same opportunity as this year’s winners to enjoy and learn from North Carolina’s natural legacy.