Students in southwest Pennsylvania schools have the opportunity to show how they’d make a difference in the area’s air quality by participating in the 4th Annual Let’s Clear the Air Poster Challenge, sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc. and Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc..

All schools, public, parochial, and private in the seven counties, included in the Southwest Pennsylvania (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland) are invited to participate.   Posters are due March 1.

The topic for this year’s contest is promoting clean air and alternative transportation.

The contest will focus on school students in grades 4 – 12 and invitations were recently sent to schools, as well as to individual science, health, social studies, and art teachers.   Gift cards will be given to the first 35 classes that sign up.  Last year, more than 41 schools and 2800 students participated in the poster contest.

“This is a fantastic outreach program for the SPAQP and has become a great hit in the regional schools,” said Al DePaoli, SPAQP Chair.  “We hope that many other schools will participate this year.  The prizes are nice for the kids and schools, but the air quality awareness and education are the primary goals for the SPAQP and PRC.”

Participating schools will receive program resources and have access to age/grade specific lesson plans, available on the SPAQP website. 

Contest categories are split into four groups: 4th and 5th upper elementary, 6th thru 8th middle school, 9th through 12th grade, high school freehand categories and new this year a graphic design category. 

The Poster Challenge curriculum covers topics including ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, transportation and energy conservation, ways to avoid exposure to air pollution and tips to reduce air pollution.

“PRC is excited to be facilitated the Let’s Clear the Air Poster Challenge for the fourth year in a row,” said Sarah Alessio Shea, Environmental Educator for PRC. “Year after year we are amazed with the student’s incredible artwork promoting clean air and alternative transportation.  We cannot wait to see what they come up with this year!”

Teachers at each school will pick the top three posters and send them to the PRC by March 1.  The SPAQP Board will evaluate all of the posters received and choose a first and second place winner from each of the four categories.

The top winner from each of the four categories will win a bicycle (to help promote alternative transportation), a $100 gift certificate to a school supply store for their teacher, and an Air Quality Magic Show assembly for their school. 

The four second place winners will receive a gift card to a local store that places an emphasis on outdoor recreation and a Beware of the Air or Recycling is Magic Show assembly program for their school. 

The contest is funded by a SPAQP and administered by the PRC. 

The SPAQP will utilize winning posters on their website, through other outreach efforts and to promote the contest in subsequent years. The winning posters will also be displayed at local venues, including malls and government buildings. 

Teachers are still able to register for the Challenge and are encouraged to visit the Let’s Clear The Air Poster Challenge webpage.

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