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Elementary school artists competed in statewide comic strip competition
(ATLANTA, GA — 05.05.11)
The Clean Air Campaign has named nine-year-old, Helen Nguyen from Rebecca Minor Elementary School in Gwinnett County, the first place winner of its “Young Lungs at Work” art competition. Nguyen, one of more than 200 elementary school students to enter the competition, was recognized for her comic strip depiction of a student discussing the health benefits of riding the bus to school with her mother.
The contest, which kicked off in February invited elementary school students to develop original comic strips to illustrate how pollution from vehicle emissions is harmful to the air we breathe. Guided by the theme, “Do Your Share for Clean Air!,” students were asked to emphasize the positive impact that small actions, such as riding the bus to school or turning off an idling car engine, can have on Georgia’s air quality.
This year’s winners include:
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First place: Helen Nguyen, 9 - Rebecca Minor Elementary School (Gwinnett County Schools)
Title: Ride the Bus!
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Second place: RaeAnna Starosciak, 11 - Liberty Elementary School (Cherokee County Schools)
Title: Of Course! That’s How We Share the Air
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Third place: (tie) Neda Mafreshi, 11 - Addison Elementary School (Cobb County Schools)
Title: Going “Green” Instead of Spending “Green”
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Third place: (tie) Chirayu Salgarkar, 8 - Simonton Elementary School (Gwinnett County Schools)
Title: Three Trips in One
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Honorable Mention: Bradley Christy, 11 - Addison Elementary School (Cobb County Schools)
Title: Young Lungs at Work
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Honorable Mention: Jackson Madden, 4 - KinderCare (Dunwoody)
Title: Mommy and Me Walking to Publix
All winning entries are currently featured on The Clean Air Campaign’s website and social media channels. Donations are also planned for each winner’s school science, environmental, or art program.
“All of the students that entered the “Young Lungs at Work” art competition drew from their own experiences and showed that big passion comes in small packages,” said Gretchen Gigley, director of education for The Clean Air Campaign. “We were blown away by how well these students expressed the important issues surrounding air quality and how their individual actions make a big difference.”
The Clean Air Campaign works throughout the school year with Georgia schools (preschool to 12th) to empower students and parents to take action for clean air within their school community. More than 300 Clean Air Schools participate in one or more of the following programs: No-Idling Program, Pool to School or Ride the Bus! For Clean Air.
For more information about how traffic and vehicle emissions impact Georgia’s air quality and to register to become a Clean Air School, visit CleanAirCampaign.org.
About The Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with Georgia's employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign, along with its associate organizations, partners with more than 1,600 employers to create custom commute options programs; and annually helps thousands of commuters find commute alternatives that work for them, providing financial incentives to get them started. The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by issuing Smog Alerts and empowers students, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and cleaning the air through a multi-faceted education program reaching elementary, middle and high schools.
Each day, these programs reduce 1.6 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 800 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe. For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR (1-877-253-2624) or visit http://www.CleanAirCampaign.org.
Media Contact:
Mike Rieman/Brittney Watson404-816-2037
