Be the Change: Students Call for Action about Litter Artistic students from across the state are raising environmental awareness through their artwork as part of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s 23rd Annual Trash Poster Contest. This year’s top-winning poster, chosen as the 2013 Promotional Display Poster of the Year, is a brightly colored chameleon sitting on a branch, bearing the phrase, “A ‘chameleon’ people trash our land! Be the change!” Created by 7th-grader Faith Ketcher of Stilwell, the poster was selected out of approximately 9,000 entries. All 13 winners of the statewide contest were honored Wednesday at a luncheon at the R.A. Ward Transportation Building in Oklahoma City. Also attending the luncheon were the artists’ parents and teachers, along with contest sponsors, Trash Poster Contest committee members and other guests. Winning posters that will appear in the 2015 Trash Poster Calendar include a friendly otter saying, “You otter pick up trash,” a pickup truck with trash blowing out of the bed with the caption, “Gone with the Wind, Be Aware!” and an astronaut on a space walk with the caption “Trash is a Waste of Space.” Each state poster winner received a monetary award of $250, $150 or $100 for first, second or third place. The Promotional Display Poster of the Year received a $200 award. All winners received a mounted reprint of their poster, a laminated placemat and a T-shirt bearing the design. Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Mike Patterson welcomed attendees to the gathering and talked about the importance of litter abatement. OKC Beautiful put on an interactive skit entitled “Mother Earth” about litter and recycling. Guests were also treated to a luncheon catered by Oklahoma’s Head Country BBQ. Following the luncheon, the students were escorted to the state Capitol and introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Harold Wright (R-Weatherford), the Majority Caucus vice chairman, Conference Committee on Higher Education and CareerTech chairman. Students also received honor citations and had an opportunity to take photos with their respective representatives and senators. Approximately 40,000 copies of the 2015 Trash Poster calendar will be distributed in December to Oklahoma schools; libraries; city, county, state and federal agencies; civic organizations; businesses and citizens. The Promotional Poster of the Year will be reprinted in full color, and 20,000 copies will be distributed statewide for display purposes. Poster winners from each category are: 9th – 12th grade: First – Austin H. Patterson, 12th grade, Verden Second – Destiny Carew, 12th grade, Altus Third – Vanessa Myers, 9th grade, Ardmore 6th – 8th grade: First – Olivia Anderson, 8th grade, Ardmore Second – Tanner McAfee, 7th grade, Oklahoma City Third – Jazmine Branch, 7th grade, Kingston 3rd – 5th grade: First – Vade Buster, 5th grade, Carnegie Second – Thomas Buchanan, 4th grade, Newalla Third – Jake Remington, 5th grade, Glencoe K – 2nd grade: First – Cambri Castleman, kindergarten, Idabel Second – Emerson Brandt, 2nd grade, Cashion Third – Amiliey Tuell, transitional 1st grade, Enid Each sponsoring teacher for the first-, second- and third-place winning entries received a voucher for a two-day stay at an Oklahoma state park, courtesy of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department - Oklahoma State Parks. They also were presented with cash vouchers, provided by the Trash Poster Contest Committee, of $100, $75 or $50, respectively, to be used to purchase classroom art supplies. “This contest is put on through a great partnership of government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations. It is fantastic that we can involve so many kids and reward them for their tremendous artwork while raising environmental awareness at the same time,” Melody Johnson, ODOT Beautification Coordinator, said. The 13 winning posters, along with dozens of other entries are posted for viewing in the ODOT lobby through April 30. Winners’ posters also can be viewed on ODOT’s website, okladot.state.ok.us. Click “Highway Beautification” and follow the “Poster Contest” link. Contest sponsors include ODOT; OGE Energy Corporation; Oklahoma Employees Credit Union; Veolia Water; Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department – Oklahoma State Parks; Oklahoma Environmental Management Authority; Walmart; AEP – Public Service Company of Oklahoma; Sierra Club, Oklahoma Chapter; Oklahoma Rural Water Association; Solid Waste Institute of Northeast Oklahoma; Oklahoma City Beautiful; Waste Research, Inc.; Keep Oklahoma Beautiful; Oklahoma Arts Council; Oklahoma Highway Safety Office; Oklahoma State Department of Education; Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Next year’s contest begins Dec. 1 and has a Jan. 31, 2015, deadline. For more information about the contest contact the ODOT Beautification Office at 405-521-4037 or e-mail [email protected].
Posted on: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:57:05 +0000
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