The Pennsylvania Resources Council had an enthusiastic response from residents across the Commonwealth participating in the 2022 Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest. The entries were divided into student and adult categories, judging was conducted and following are the results.

Student Winners

In the student category, the winner of the $500 first place prize is Madeline Whited of Lancaster, a 17-yr. old 12th grade student at Penn Manor High School. Madeline’s photo titled “Nature Show” pictures the discarded shell of a television filled with fall leaves & debris.

The judges awarded the second place prize of $250 to Jacob Karpinski from Bushkill, a 16-yr. old 11th grade student at East Stroudsburg North High School. Jacob’s photo titled “Alice’s Viaduct” shows a disused viaduct (dubbed, “Alice,” or “Wonderland,” by locals) now covered in graffiti and litter.

The third place prize of $100 was won by Kinley Manges, an 11-yr. old 6th grade student from Valencia who attends Mars Area Elementary School. Kinley’s photo titled “Drowning in Pollution” depicts a dead fish surrounded by litter along a rocky stream.

Adult Winners

The winner of the $500 first place prize in the adult category was Lynn Armel of Erie. Lynn’s photo titled “Great Lake Garbage Patch” shows mostly plastic litter accumulated at the shoreline along Ore Docks in Erie.

Lynn also conducted a series of clean-ups in this area, removing 1,500 pounds of trash from a ¼ mile area, and helping to preserve the area’s most precious natural resource—Lake Erie.

Karen Morris of Sewickley was awarded the second place prize of $250 for her photo titled “Bad Habits, Best Friends”, picturing a dog chewing on a discarded pack of cigarettes.

The judges awarded the third place prize of $100 to Larissa Gula of Carnegie. Her photo titled “License and Litter, Please” shows a broken down toy truck abandoned in a wooded area amongst various other types of litter.

Exposure leads to prevention! The objective of PRC’s Lens on Litter Contest is to focus public attention on the problems of litter in Pennsylvania.

Photos help to heighten litter consciousness by showing how it threatens public health and safety, scenic beauty, property values, the environment, pets and wildlife.

PRC encourages students and adults to enter the 2023 Lens on Litter Contest, which opens for entries on January 1st and closes October 31st.

 For more information and to see all winning photos, visit PRC’s Lens On Litter Contest.

PRC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of our volunteer judging panel and sponsors of Lens on Litter 2022—Carolyn Capaldi, Robert & Mary Capaldi, Sheetz, Inc. and Wegmans!

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Resources Council website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.  Click Here for PRC’s Events Calendar.  Click Here to support their work.

PRC is Pennsylvania’s oldest grassroots environmental organization founded in 1939.  PRC has worked to protect resources for future generations through environmental education, recycling, waste diversion programs, anti-litter campaigns, watershed and other initiatives.

(Photos: First Place Student Winner "Nature Show” by Madeline Whited of Lancaster; First Place Adult Winner “Great Lake Garbage Patch” by Lynn Armel of Erie.)

[Posted: November 28, 2022]

12/5/2022