MILLSTONE – Pupils in the Millstone Township K-8 School District took part in a contest that was held to promote environmental awareness.
Pupils at the Millstone Township Primary School and the Millstone Township Elementary School participated in an annual Earth Day art contest.
The contest was sponsored by the Millstone Township Clean Communities program and coordinated by art teacher Daniel Locandro, according to Lori Maher, the township’s Clean Communities coordinator.
Maher said the contest is intended to raise awareness and educate pupils about the environment and the importance of recycling and reducing waste.
Unlike past contests which featured only posters, this year’s contest allowed pupils to create sculptures using recycled items and discarded objects that reflected environmental themes, according to Maher.
The pupils’ work was displayed in the school library. Every student received a certificate of participation.
Maher said she and Marianne Heyesey, who is the Millstone Township Environmental Commission secretary, judged the entries on April 21, the day before Earth Day.
Prizes were awarded for first, second and third place at each school and one prize was awarded for each grade level. The contest winners received Barnes & Noble gift cards.
At the primary school, Samarth Desai placed first, Vincenzo Baldino placed second and Daniel Rodriguez placed third. The pre-kindergarten winner was Anna Robertson, the kindergarten winner was Britton Weltner, the first grade winner was Ava Patel and the second grade winner was Emlyn Shields.
At the elementary school, Tanner Wilson placed first, Anna DePinho placed second and Rachel Minch placed third. The third grade winner was Briana Servetah, the fourth grade winner was Lyla Harper and the fifth grade winner was Izzy Tonielli.
“The students did an amazing job on their art sculptures,” Maher said. “They demonstrated creativity and a true understanding of the importance of reducing waste, recycling and caring for our environment.”
