Truly Nolen-Hosted Contest Helps Nevada Choose State Insect

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev.  — After being one of eight states to have never chosen a state insect or butterfly, the state of Nevada will officially designate one in 2009 at the culmination of a school contest hosted by Truly Nolen of America, one of the nation’s largest family owned pest control companies. 

The company approached the Clark County School District after doing some research on the subject.  “I write a column that appears in a weekly newspaper in New Mexico, and while doing some research, we discovered the New Mexico state legislature adopted the Tarantula Hawk Wasp as its official state insect in 1989,” said Barry “The Bug Guy” Murray, Truly Nolen national spokesperson.  “We also discovered that selection of the insect was prompted by a group of Edgewood, New Mexico elementary school children doing research on states which had adopted state insects. They selected three insects as candidates, and mailed ballots to all schools for a statewide election.”

Armed with that knowledge, Murray discovered that Nevada was the one place without a state insect where the company had a location (570 W. Cheyenne Avenue, North Las Vegas).  After contacting the Clark County School District’s communication office, Murray was excited to learn there was mutual interest in staging a contest where fourth graders would be able to have a say in the insect that would officially be designated the state insect.

One person who became a fan of the idea almost immediately upon learning about it was District 5 State Senator Joyce Woodhouse (Dem.), herself a former educator in Clark County.  Woodhouse and District 22 Assemblyman Lynn Stewart (Rep.), began drawing up a bill the final week of 2008 to announce the contest’s intentions, proving that insects cross party lines.

"Assemblyman Stewart and I thought this would be a tremendous learning opportunity for students to not only learn more about science, but the processes utilized by our state government as well,” said Woodhouse.  “As former teachers, the idea of having our children involved in the selection process is something that appeals to both of us, and we thank Truly Nolen for bringing the contest idea to our fourth graders.”

To participate in the selection process, each class will need to submit a typed one page, research-based essay supporting the nomination of an insect found in Nevada and the rationale for why that insect would be a good symbol for the state.  The nominations must meet the scientific definition of an insect. 

Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges including an entomologist, representatives from the Nevada Department of Education, Truly Nolen’s local branch manager Stan Parris, and other educational specialists, who will select the winning essay.

 “One of our company’s goals is to educate children about insects, and we’re glad to have the opportunity to help students educate their state government leaders about why the winning selection should be the Nevada state insect,” said Murray.  “Therefore, Truly Nolen is excited to be providing select students and their teacher transportation to Carson City to testify in front of the appropriate legislative committee because it’s not often students have a chance to ride around in a vehicle with big ears and a tail.”

 For more information about the contest including downloadable forms with the contest’s rules, visit http://www.ccsd.net/partnership/.