Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful thanks all Pennsylvania youth who participated in the 2022 Litter Hawk Youth Award Program.

The program provides a way for students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 to express their concerns about litter through art, words or video.

Each participant completed a designated project specific to their grade level addressing the theme: How do you keep Pennsylvania beautiful?

Judges were excited to see so many thoughtful submissions illustrating positive change towards reducing the amount of trash found in our parks,   school grounds and along our roadways.

Two entries were awarded in each grade level. First place winners received a $25 gift card. First runners-up received a $15 gift card.

First Place Winners:

-- Bailee Pliska, Kindergarten (poster), Westmoreland County

-- Kylie Blakeslee, Grade 1 (poster), Tioga County

-- Paisun Wilt, Grade 2 (poster), Perry County

-- Zaniel Lowman, Grade 3 (poster), Westmoreland County

-- Likhit Nagh Boni, Grade 4 (poster), Chester County

-- Damian Stiffey, Grade 5 (essay), Cambria County

-- Leonora Orellana Antón, Grade 6 (video), Wayne County        

Runners-Up Winners:

-- Chase Garnett, Kindergarten (poster), Cumberland County

-- Luke Goeckel, Grade 1 (poster), Perry County

-- Kyleigh Llacas, Grade 2 (poster), Brandywine Wallace Elementary, Chester County*

-- Izabelle Fackler, Grade 3 (poster), Cumberland County

-- Emmelee Campbell, Niang Lun, and Janiya Herrera Grade 4 (poster), Fritz Elementary, Lancaster County*

-- Amber Drozdis, Grade 5 (video - tie), Lackawanna County

-- Andrew Haas, Grade 5 (video - tie), Philadelphia County

-- Guilianna De Maio, Grade 6 (video), Pike County

* Pennsylvania students could participate individually or as part of a lesson initiated by schools, environmental clubs or other organized groups. Brandywine Wallace Elementary in Chester County, Lyall J. Fink Elementary in Dauphin County, Middle Paxton Elementary School in Dauphin County, Wilmington Area Elementary in Lawrence County and Fritz Elementary in Lancaster County participated at the classroom level.

Each of their projects and stories will be posted on Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Facebook page in the coming weeks.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful wants to thank all the students who participated in our Litter Hawk Youth Award program this year. It’s humbling to see and hear what Pennsylvania youth think about keeping our neighborhoods clean and beautiful. Engaging youth in protecting the environment creates a direct impact on changing behaviors and attitudes and kids have a knack for influencing their friends and families,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Congratulations to this year’s Litter Hawks! We hope to see everyone back again next year.”

The Litter Hawk Youth Award program is offered annually and was created with funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The winning gift cards were sponsored in part by Walmart, Greensburg and Delmont locations. 

For more information, visit the Litter Hawk Youth Award Program webpage. Questions can be answered by Kylie McCutcheon at kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org or 877-772-3673 ext. 114.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

The 2022 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative will be held from March 1 through May 31.  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

(Photo: Poster by Paisun Wilt, Perry County,  Grade 2 First Place Winner.)

[Posted: March 17, 2022]

3/21/2022