Two visitors of the April 19 Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration won Trek bicycles after playing bingo and visiting all of the exhibitors listed on the bingo card: Mark Montoya from Michigan City and Ryan Roznowski from Kouts.
In addition, all event attendees had the opportunity to vote on their favorite barrels in the second annual School Rain Barrel Design Contest. First through third place prizes were available in two categories: Elementary school; and middle, intermediate and high schools.
First place $150 classroom scholarships were won by Valparaiso Northview Elementary School fifth grade art clubs, under the supervision of teacher Patricia Cummings; and Victory Christian Academy, Valparaiso, seventh, eighth and eleventh graders under the supervision of teacher Joyce Girgenti.
Second place $50 classroom scholarships and hand chairs made out of recycled plastics were won by Valparaiso Hayes Leonard Elementary School Van Gogh-Go’s Art Club, under the supervision of teachers Megan Wallen and Ashley Kandel; and Valparaiso High School Freshmen Academy, under the supervision of teacher Sarah Quartuccio.
Third place $50 classroom scholarship was won by Kouts Elementary School kindergarten through fifth grade students, under the supervision of teacher Austin Wright.
In the middle, intermediate and high school category, a third place tie resulted between two Chesterton schools: St. Patrick Catholic School seventh grade homeroom/science class, under the supervision of teachers Lisa Hughes and Pam Clements; and Westchester Intermediate School Student Council, under the supervision of teachers Dalila Reeder and Megan Sexton.
Other schools that competed in the contest and had their designed rain barrels on display at the Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration were: Union Center Elementary School, Valparaiso; Lake Hills STEM Magnet Elementary School, Michigan City; Duneland Montessori Academy, Chesterton; St. Paul Catholic School, Valparaiso; Discovery Charter School, Chesterton; SELF School, Valparaiso; Union Township Middle School, Valparaiso; Nativity of Our Savior School, Portage; Barker Middle School, Michigan City; Portage High School; Hebron High School; and Chesterton High School.
Photos of all school designed barrels are available on website of the Recycling and Waste Reduction District, www.ItMeansTheWorld.org.
The Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration is an annual event that connects visitors with environmental organizations and vendors that sell products that reduce environmental impact. The event is sponsored by the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County and supported by many businesses, including major sponsors Duneland 28, Metro Recycling, NIPSCO, NIRPC and Lakeshore Public Media.
The district is a government agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services. Visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org for more information, or call 465-3694.
