CORVALLIS, Ore. — A honey bee hovers above hives and a native bumblebee visits a pink clover flower on a new Oregon license plate drawn by the youngest member of the Oregon State University Extension Service’s Master Melittologist program.
The plate, which features a vivid pink clover field, green mountains and blue sky as a backdrop for the bees, symbolizes the connection between bees and Oregon’s diverse agricultural industry.
Marek Stanton, 16, started the drawing more than a year ago. A student at Summit Learning Charter in Eagle Creek, he worked with Andony Melathopoulos, OSU Extension pollinator health specialist, and Sarah Kincaid, faculty research assistant, on the inspiration behind the design.
Melathopoulos and Kincaid gave him a rough idea, and then Stanton was given free rein to create it.
At least 3,000 plates must be preordered before production begins through the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Plates can be reserved by visiting the Pollinator Paradise website. Each plate has a $40 specialty surcharge when initially ordered, in addition to regular title, registration and plate fees.
For each sale, $35 supports bee research conducted by the OSU Extension Pollinator Health Lab and Honey Bee Lab programs. The funds may also help graduate students doing bee research at OSU.
Kincaid and Melathopoulos said they expect to easily reach the 3,000-plate goal.
“I think it’s a big deal,” Kincaid said. “In a state like Oregon where so many people are passionate about bees, we should have a license plate celebrating that. With its abundance of native bees, Oregon should, too.”
The plate, which features a vivid pink clover field, green mountains and blue sky as a backdrop for the bees, symbolizes the connection between bees and Oregon’s diverse agricultural industry.
Since native bumblebees are drawn to clover, and clover is exported across the country as a cover crop, it became the perfect icon for the design, Kincaid said.
‘Born to create’
Marek said he started drawing as soon as he picked up a pencil. Over the years, his art blossomed. He has tried nearly every medium — watercolor, acrylics, pastels, sculpture, blacksmithing, beadwork, embroidery and knitting.
“He was born to create,” said his mother, Kalika, with a mixture of wonder and pride. “He both learns and expresses himself through color and form.
“He was the kid covering the walls with crayons. At 3, he vandalized my white porcelain Christmas decorations because they ‘needed color.’ They are my favorite Christmas items now. They’re personalized.”
Young artist and bee enthusiast
Marek is mostly self-taught. He scoured the limited selection of art books at the library and was excited to learn about the Master Melittologist program, which trains participants to volunteer and identify native bees.
There was one problem — the minimum age is 18. So Kalika signed up so Marek could participate. She has attended every class and event with him.
“We see Marek as representing the best of us,” Kincaid said. “He’s a bright young mind who’s passionate about this field and wants to share his knowledge and abilities with Oregonians.”
Melathopoulos noted that few amateur melittologists have Marek’s understanding of bee diversity and biology.
“He has a real feel for the bees of the state and knows how to translate this into an image that brings bees to life,” Melathopoulos said.
From idea to design
The idea for a bee-themed license plate began when Kincaid suggested it several years ago. At the time, it seemed too difficult to work through the Oregon Legislature for approval.
Recently, the DMV changed its rules for applying for special-themed plates, making it possible. As the group considered artists, Marek quickly came to mind.
“Marek has a great story,” Kincaid said. “He’s the first youth Master Melittologist. Along the way we learned he was an artist and found out how remarkable he is, so we asked him to create something.
“And he’s also very gracious about his art. He made all the staff and instructors an original painting of a bee — all different.”
From birds to bees
Marek’s love of natural history started about the same time as his interest in art. He loved animals and began by watching birds, then insects.
He briefly turned his attention to ants before becoming fascinated with bees.
The information collected by Master Melittologists is used for the Oregon Bee Atlas, an ongoing list of Oregon’s 600 native bee species that supports pollinator health efforts.
Dedicated student and volunteer
To become a certified Master Melittologist, participants must complete five training modules, attend a one-day field day and perform 20 hours of volunteer work.
Marek has completed it all, attending every class and event, most of which were held online in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He watched all of the Oregon Bee Project’s Wild World of Bees webinars in 2020, including one at his grandmother’s house after his family evacuated during the wildfires.
“[Marek] would pop up in the chat during the World of Bees webinars with sophisticated remarks and we would send him additional information,” Kincaid said. “We thought he was 65. When we met him in person, we were shocked.”
Marek said, “It was during the 2020 webinars that I connected with Andony. It was impressive how much time he spent answering my questions.
“I greatly appreciate the support and number of opportunities that Sarah, Andony and other members of the Oregon Bee Atlas have given me. I am truly lucky to have parents willing to dedicate this amount of time and energy.”
Documenting the life around him
Marek, who hopes to major in biology with an emphasis on entomology in college, began an ambitious plan to document natural life around his home.
“It started out when I was around 10 trying to document all life in our garden with my mom and brother,” he said. “There are a huge number of species found in a well-cared-for garden.
“We found that out really quickly and looking back, I continue to realize how lofty that goal was.”
Previously titled Teenage Master Melittologist creates artwork for new Oregon license plate celebrating pollinators
