The 12th Annual Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration took place last Saturday at the Porter County Expo Center, and many contest winners were recognized and earned prizes for their efforts in the event.
Two visitors won bicycles after playing bingo and visiting all of the exhibitors listed on the game sheets: Nick Wachsmann from Valparaiso and Addison Deal from Portage.
In addition, all event attendees had the opportunity to vote on their favorite barrels in the fifth annual School Rain Barrel Design Contest, sponsored by Bucher Construction. First through third place prizes were available in two categories: elementary school and middle/intermediate/high school.
First place $150 classroom scholarships were won by Nativity of Our Savior School 7th graders, teacher Pamela Clements, and the Central Elementary Planeteers Club, teacher Vanessa Hand.
Second place $50 classroom scholarships and hand chairs were won by the Andrean High School Art Club, teachers Sammy Listro and Charlotte Spence, and the Discovery Charter School Art Club, teacher Annette Hansen.
Third place $50 classroom scholarships were won by Merrillville High School Art Club members Cheyenne Adams, Ralissa Andrews and Justin Edgerton with teacher Janet Anderson, and Kouts Elementary School 4th and 5th graders Dustin and Madisyn Pavlik with teacher Austin Wright.
Others won recognition in the third annual Re-Think Art Contest. Each art piece was judged twice; once by a jury and once by the visitors of Earth Day. There were two categories: adult and youth.
The jury gave first place awards to “Lake Lost,” by Angelica Lorandos, Munster, and “Recyclops,” by Thursday kids 10 years of age and older class at Art Barn School of Art, Valparaiso.
The jury awarded second place to “Waterscapes,” by Joyce Dille, Chesterton, and “The Scream,” by Addy Hendricks, Hobart.” Third place was awarded to “Vodoo Monkey,” by Eddie Wantuch and Jim Shamhart, Schererville; and “Mutant Peacock,” by Yost Elementary fourth Grade Art Class, Porter.
The following artworks won People’s Choice first place, as voted by the visitors of the Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration: “Emerald City,” by Pines Village Retirement Communities, and “Recyclops,” by Thursday kids 10 years of age and older class at Art Barn School of Art.
“Lake Lost,” by Angelica Lorandos, and “Catty the Caterpillar,” by Addy Hendricks, won People’s Choice second place; “Shout it Out Loud. Open the Door to Recycling,” by Rene Rodriquez, Valparaiso, and “Mutant Peacock,” by Yost Elementary fourth grade art class, won People’s Choice third place.
The Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration was sponsored by Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction with major support by Duneland 28, NWI Clean Air, Metro Recycling, NIPSCO, Pratt Industries, Fronius USA LLC, Porter County Expo, Republic Services, Tradebe Environmental Services, and many others.
Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction District is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life by providing services and educational programs which help residents reduce, reuse, and recycle.