Capturing the Excitement: Walker Elementary Wins P&G Future Friendly/National Geographic Contest
Last week, I had the privilege of photographing the P&G Future Friendly/National Geographic Find Your Footprint winner’s assembly at Walker Elementary in Springdale, Arkansas. This nationwide contest encouraged schools to submit their best ideas for going green, and after narrowing it down to six finalists, the public voted for the top project. To everyone’s delight, the second-grade students at Walker Elementary emerged victorious!
The students had no idea they had won until the announcement was made during the assembly. Their teacher, Betsy, had cleverly kept the surprise under wraps, handing out special shirts and telling them they were attending an early Earth Day celebration. The moment was filled with pride and joy, and you could see just how much their teacher cherished this achievement for her students.
Springdale superintendent Jim Rollins shared in the excitement, giving a second-grade student a high-five after his speech during the assembly. The children were thrilled to receive some incredible prizes, including five Promethean interactive whiteboards—an amazing tool that combines a whiteboard and computer into one device, transforming the classroom experience. After the assembly, the kids enjoyed watching their video entry on the new boards and even had the chance to write their names on them.
However, the best moment of the day for me came when the winner was revealed. The kids were visibly overwhelmed by joy, but one moment stood out. Hunter, a little boy in the crowd, was so overcome with excitement that he was brought to tears. His reaction was incredibly touching, and it was a true privilege to capture such a heartfelt moment. It’s these genuine expressions of joy and pride that make being a photographer so rewarding.
