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WILMINGTON — In a ceremony at the Clinton County Courthouse, county commissioners and members of the Solid Waste Management District (SWMD) recognized 10 local students for their efforts in preserving the natural environment.
Elementary students — grades K through 5 — across the county were asked to create posters depicting local recycling and litter prevention activities. Their artwork was carefully judged and the top 10 winners were selected to represent the county in the SWMD’s annual calendar.
In all, 126 homeroom classes ranging across the grades from nine school facilities and the home-school Christian Heritage Home Educators took part in this year’s countywide contest.
Earlier this week, the winners, their families, teachers, principals and members of the community gathered for the courthouse ceremony to formally recognize each of the winning student artists.
The students were awarded various prizes including recycled content game rugs, stainless steel water bottles made from recycled steel, and duffle bags made from recycled plastic bottles.
The winners were presented with their original artwork, now custom framed with a personalized nameplate commemorating the event. Each student also received first editions of the featured calendar.
Clinton County Commissioners Mike Curry and Kerry R. Steed, along with Solid Waste District representatives Jeff Walls, Dori Bishop and Mark Michael presented the winners with the awards and, as is the tradition, invited guests for refreshments following the program.
The 10 county winners are Putman Elementary kindergartner Caylee Haines, Denver Place Elementary first-grader Alexis Murphy, Clinton-Massie Elementary second-grader Scarlett Patterson, Holmes Elementary second-grader Jesse Keith, Clinton-Massie Elementary third-grader Tricia Wilson, East End Elementary third-grader Michael Scarberry, Blanchester Intermediate fourth-grader Aubrey Stevens, Blanchester Intermediate fourth-grader Dustin Black, Clinton-Massie Elementary fifth-grader Mia O’Leary, and Clinton-Massie Elementary fifth-grader Stephanie Nichols.
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