PRC: Winners Of Let’s Clear The Air Poster Challenge In Western PA, Vote For People’s Choice

Western Pennsylvania’s celebration of Earth Day 2017 will include a display of award-winning artwork created by local students who entered the 7th annual “Let’s Clear the Air Poster Challenge” sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership and the PA Resources Council.  

You can also vote for the People’s Choice through May 31.

A panel of judges selected the 2016-17 winners:

-- Elementary Category

-- First Place: Maggie Dobich, Independence Elementary, Beaver County

-- Second Place: Billie Dobich, Independence Elementary, Beaver County

--Middle School Category

-- First Place: Riley Orr, St. Alexis, Allegheny County

-- Second Place:  Paige Morningstar, St. Alexis, Allegheny County

-- High School Category

-- First Place:  Baylee Smith, Canon–McMillan, Washington County

-- Second Place:  Marisa Tour, West Mifflin, Allegheny County

More than 2,100 students attending 37 public, parochial and private schools in a 10-county region took part in the poster challenge during the 2016-17 academic year.  

The winning artwork will be on display April 18-24 in the grand lobby of the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh.  The artwork will also be on display May 2-31 at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  View winning artwork online.

“By creating artwork, students have an opportunity to share important messages about decreasing air pollution and increasing alternative transportation,” said Sarah Alessio Shea, PRC Environmental Education Coordinator.  “We’re excited to celebrate Earth Day by displaying this amazing artwork for the public to view so that they, too, can learn more about these vital environmental topics.”

“For a seventh school year, students were challenged with creating posters to educate the public, and again they did an amazing job of visually depicting their thoughts and perspectives,” according to SPAQP Chair Betsy Mallison.  "The goal of the program is to teach students about the effects of air pollution, how to reduce their exposure, and to then encourage action through a poster campaign promoting clean air and alternative transportation.”

Students created posters using a variety of art media including watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, marker and charcoal.

Vote For People’s Choice

Individuals living throughout southwestern Pennsylvania can cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award.  All visiting the PRC website through May 31 can cast votes to select one of three pieces of artwork, and the winner will receive a $50 REI Gift card.  

Vying for the People’s Choice Award are Madilyn Shingle, Holiday Park Elementary (Allegheny County), Mary Ambrose, St. Luke Lutheran School (Butler County) and Anthony Duckett, The Neighborhood Academy (Allegheny County).

For more information, visit PRC’s Let’s Clear the Air Poster Challenge webpage.

(Photo: Elementary First Place: Maggie Dobich, Independence Elementary, Beaver County.)

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