DAPHNE, Ala. — On April 20, the Daphne Optimist Club presented its first “Be Kind to Animals” Art & Poetry Recognition Ceremony, in support of National Be Kind to Animals week, slated for May 2-8. 

More than 1,700 Daphne first- through sixth-graders participated in the program; 44 were chosen for special recognition for their creative interpretation of what it means to be kind to animals, according to Nancy Martin, planning committee member.

Kids from several schools in the city, including Bayside Academy, Christ the King, Daphne East Elementary, Daphne Elementary and Daphne United Methodist participated: first- through third-graders submitted art work; fourth- through sixth-graders composed poems. Grand prize winner in the artwork category was Tiger Cleveland, a third-grader from Bayside Academy. Grand prize winner in the poetry category was Anna McVay, a fifth-grader from Daphne East Elementary. Tiger and Anna received $75 gift cards in addition to zoo passes and grab bags filled with various items donated from local merchants.

“This competition was an excellent opportunity to bring animal-care issues to the conscious level for our students …. they had a great time brainstorming about acts of kindness …. thanks to the Optimist Club and their co-sponsors for organizing all of this. It is always so rewarding to see the students recognized by the community and to watch the proud parents as the names are read out,” Phyllis Horne, Bayside Academy teacher, said.

The evening’s highlight, organizers said, was when Patti Hall, director of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, coordinated an unexpected visit from Mysore and Kandy, two Bengal tiger cubs on loan to the zoo from  Marcan Tiger Preserve. 

The awards ceremony was held in the Daphne United Methodist Church’s Community Life Center. Daphne Optimist President Ben Spencer presided along with Optimist club members. The Alabama-Lousiana-Mississippi Optimist district governor Jim Miner from Huntsville and lieutenant governor Harry D’Olive also attended.

See full list of winners in the May 1 Daphne Bulletin