Students attending schools in 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties will have the opportunity to show how they will make a difference in the area’s air quality by participating in the sixth annual “Let’s Clear the Air Poster Challenge” sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc. and the PA Resources Council, Inc.

All schools in southwestern Pennsylvania – Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland – are invited to participate.

(Photo: 2015 First Place Winner in the Elementary Category-- Nancy Weeks from Spring Valley, Fayette County.)

The topic of the 2015/2016 competition will be promoting clean air and alternative transportation such as carpooling, using public transit, walking or bicycling.

“This poster challenge is designed to encourage students and teachers in southwestern Pennsylvania to learn about the effects of air pollution, how to reduce their exposure and to encourage them to take action,” according to Al DePaoli of SPAQP. “Through this creative project, students will learn about ground-level ozone, energy conservation, ways to avoid exposure to air pollution and much more.”

The contest will involve students in grades 4 – 12 at public, parochial and private schools.  Teachers representing the first 35 classes to register by the November 30 deadline will receive gift cards to purchase art supplies.

Participating schools will receive program resources and have access to age/grade specific lesson plans.

The challenge is open to teachers of all disciplines, including Science, History and Art.

Contest categories are split into three groups: 4th and 5th upper elementary, 6th thru 8th middle school, and 9th through 12th grade high school.

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.

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 three categories.

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

The three second-place winners will receive a gift card to a local store that places an emphasis on outdoor recreation and a “Be Aware of the Air” or “Recycling is Magic Show” assembly program for the school.

Last year, more than 2,500 students attending 50 area schools participated in the poster contest.

In the spring, the winning posters will be displayed at local venues including shopping malls, hospitals and government buildings as well as posted online.

For more information, visit PRC’s Clear The Air Poster Challenge or call PRC at 412-773-7156.

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11/16/2015