Crane-Inspired Creative Arts
Scholarship Contest
The Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, Inc. (CCCC) presents this annual Scholarship Contest to raise awareness of our Rocky Mountain Greater Sandhill Cranes in the younger generation. This contest is for high school seniors in Routt and Moffat counties and encourages students to engage with written and visual arts.
Past entries for the Creative Arts Scholarship Contest.
2023 Crane-Inspired Creative Arts Scholarship Contest Winning Entries
We are pleased to share with you the winning entries in the 2023 high school senior Crane-Inspired Creative Arts Scholarship Contest!
The work had to be original and accurately reflect the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of our Greater Sandhill Cranes. Judging was done by a panel of experts in each category. Thank you to the generous donation of our crane supporter who funds this contest every year.
We gave away $10,000 in continuing education scholarships to the winners of this year’s contest. The 1st Place Winners of each category received a $3000 scholarship for continuing education. The 2nd Place Winners of each category received a $1500 scholarship. The Honorable Mention can be in either category and received a $1000 scholarship. Please be advised that all of these pieces of work are protected by copyright.
Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s contest! Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry to this scholarship contest.
Category 1 – Written Arts
1st Place Winner: Beck Honebein, “Generations” (Steamboat Springs)

2nd Place Winner: Taylor Graham, “On the Convention of Names,” “The Curse of the Yampa Valley,” “Little Girl’s Ode to a Crane” (Steamboat Springs High School)

Category 2 – Visual Arts
1st Place Winner: Ella Piret, “Cranes in Spring Texture” (Steamboat Springs High School)

2nd Place Winner: Dominic Talamantes, “The Wondering Crane” (Yampa Valley High School)

Honorable Mention: Caroline Landers, “The Staredown: (Steamboat Springs High School)

CCCC thanks our generous donor, Gail Jensen, for making these scholarships possible.
Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, Inc. (CCCC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that conserves and protects the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes and their habitat using science and education to connect people with this iconic species. CCCC seeks to raise awareness of cranes and the threats they face today through the annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival, the Crane Nest Cam and videos, Crane Photo Contest, third-grade and community crane educational presentations, the First Crane Sighting Contest, the Crane Coloring Contest and the CCCC Crane-inspired Creative Arts Scholarship Contest for high school seniors. CCCC also sponsors an on-the-ground habitat improvement program called Crops for Cranes where CCCC works with ranchers/farmers and environmental organizations to leave grain crops for Sandhill Cranes during the fall just prior to migration.