Davis Middle School swept most of the honors in the middle school division of this year's Clean Air Campaign Young Lungs at Work art competition, even claiming the overall middle school crown with sixth grader Raegan Owen. Elementary and high school winners were also named. These awardees were selected from the more than 300 entries received.
The overall winners were:
Raegan Owen, a sixth grader from General Ray Davis Middle School in Stockbridge captured first place in the middle school division. In her comic strip, Owen asks her mom not to idle while waiting to pick her up from school.
Emery Wahlen, a fifth grader from Kittredge Magnet School in Atlanta, won first place in the elementary division. Her comic strip depicts students walking to school in order to reduce pollution from the tailpipes of cars.
Jaimie Shing, a senior from Northview High School in Johns Creek, won first place in a newly created T-shirt category for high school students. Her design ties the clean air cause back to student health with her detailed drawing of a set of young lungs emblazoned with the slogan "Help Save Us!"
The contest, which kicked off in January, invited students in grades K - 8 to develop original comic strips and high school students to create original t-shirt designs. All entrants were charged with illustrating the positive effects that taking the bus to school, turning off an idling car engine or carpooling to school can have on Georgia's air quality.
This year's winners include:
Elementary School Winners:
o First place: Emery Wahlen, 5th grade, Kittredge Magnet School (DeKalb County Schools, Atlanta), Title: Be cool, walk to school: For Clean Air!
o Second place: Emily Hwang, 5th grade, Brookwood Elementary School (Forsyth County Schools, Cumming), Title: Go Green!
o Third place: Lily Brody, 4th grade, Ford Elementary School (Cobb County Schools, Acworth), Title: Walking Towards Clean Air
o Honorable Mention: Eshal Siddiqui, 2nd grade, Oak Grove Elementary School (DeKalb County Schools, Atlanta), Title: Clean Air
o Honorable Mention: Payten Shoemake, 1st grade, Oak Grove Elementary School (DeKalb County Schools, Atlanta), Title: Kids Rock to Keep the Air Clean!
Middle School Winners:
o First place: Raegan Owen, 6th grade, General Ray Davis Middle School (Rockdale County Schools, Stockbridge), Title: Waiting for the Bell
o Second place: Macee Palmer, 6th grade, Miller County Middle School (Miller County Schools, Colquitt), Title: Listen to Your Environment
o Third place: Delaney Willette, 6th grade, General Ray Davis Middle School (Rockdale County Schools, Stockbridge), Title: Car Pooling
o Honorable Mention: Ariana Johnson, 7th grade, General Ray Davis Middle School (Rockdale County Schools, Stockbridge), Title: The Dream
o Honorable Mention: Nathaniel Buck, 7th grade, General Ray Davis Middle School (Rockdale County Schools, Stockbridge), Title: Jenny and the Polar Bear
o Honorable Mention: Ryan Belfi, 7th grade, Ridgeview Charter School (Fulton County Schools, Sandy Springs), Title: Save Our Planet!
High School Winners:
o First place: Jaimie Shing, senior, Northview High School (Fulton County Schools, Johns Creek), Title: And They Cried 'Help Us!'
o Second place: Sophia Choi, freshman, Northview High School (Fulton County Schools, Johns Creek), Title: Be the Leader for Clean Air
o Third place: Carey Jang, senior, Northview High School (Fulton County Schools, Johns Creek), Title: Lung Protection
All winning entries will be featured on The Clean Air Campaign's website and social media channels - showing off the winners' talents to thousands of Georgians. Donations are also planned for each winning school's science, environmental, or art program.
"It's very gratifying to see our future leaders are so excited about improving air quality. With so many great entries this year, picking winners was a difficult task," said Gretchen Gigley, director of education for The Clean Air Campaign.
The Clean Air Campaign works throughout the school year with Georgia schools 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, Get There Green and Ride the Bus! For Clean Air. These fun and interactive programs help students learn that it is their actions that pave the way for positive change in air quality.
For more information about how traffic and vehicle emissions impact Georgia's air quality or to register to become a Clean Air School, visit CleanAirCampaign.org.
