Spring is in the air, and unfortunately so are a lot of nasty pollutants that affect air quality.  Promoting ways to help change this is the focus of the 4th annual "Let's Clear the Air" Poster Challenge sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership and the PA Resources Council. 

Students attending 50 schools in a seven-county region took part in the 4th annual "Let's Clear the Air" poster challenge during the 2013-2014 academic year.

The winning artwork was displayed at The Mall at Robinson, Children's Hospital, and UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside.

Winning entries are--

-- Elementary Category: 1st Place: Samhita Vasudevan from Marshall Elementary; 2nd Place: Kyleigh Gianfrancesco from Ramsay

-- Elementary Middle School Category: 1st Place: Abby Posposil from Holy Sepulcher Catholic School; 2nd Place: Lucia Santos Huertas from Shadyside Academy

-- High School Category: 1st Place: Bailey Marshall from Hopewell High School; 2nd Place: Amber Palmer Riggin from Geibel Catholic Jr. Sr. High

-- Graphic Design Category: 1st Place: Haley Marra from South Allegheny; 2nd Place: Kaylee Presson from South Allegheny

"The students were challenged with creating posters that would educate the public on either clean air or alternative transportation," according to Sarah Alessio Shea, PRC Environmental Education Coordinator.  "The four first-place winners won a $100 gift certification for school supplies for their class and a bicycle, courtesy of Bicycle Heaven, to help promote alternative transportation.  Second-place winners won a gift certificate to an outdoor recreation store.  And both first- and second-place winners will receive an Air Quality or Recycling Magic Show at their school."

(Reprinted from the June issue of e-PRC newsletter.)

6/9/2014