Working in partnership with Mesa Public Schools (MPS), the City of Mesa Environmental Management & Sustainability Department sponsored the 'Express Your Environmental Self' Earth Day Creative Challenge.
All MPS elementary students were invited to take part in this year's competition and 277 entries were submitted. Students first selected an environmental theme personally important to them such as recycling, water conservation, pollution, litter prevention, etc. They were then challenged to convey that environmental message through poetry, drawing, painting, or other art form.
A panel of judges reviewed the entries received and selected this year's winners.
Category: Grades K-3
o First Place: Ryan Apolonio, Third Grade, Eisenhower Center for Innovation
o Second Place: Kate Langendorf, Third Grade, Field Elementary
o Third Place: Maddie Antone, Second Grade, Kerr Elementary
Category: Grades 4-6
o First Place: Margaret Speakman, Fifth Grade, Edison Elementary
o Second Place: Kristel Beltran, Fifth Grade, Holmes Elementary
o Third Place: Rebecca Fletcher, Fifth Grade, Falcon Hill Elementary
Winners will receive environmentally themed prizes as well as sustainable school supplies for their classroom. In addition, first place winners will also have a tree planted on their school campus. Submissions from winners can be viewed at MesaRecycles.org.
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and continues to be celebrated around the world. In turn, the City invites residents and businesses to act, too. Mesa is supporting efforts of the community by offering more than 50 fun and easy, and locally relevant tips on its website at mesaaz.gov/earthday.