In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, the Mall at Robinson partnered with the Pennsylvania Resources Council and the Air & Waste Management Association to host a recycled craft competition for elementary, middle and high school students in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

An opening reception was held at the Mall where panel of judges selected 10 semi-finalists from the elementary and middle school division and three semi-finalists from the high school division. The semi-finalists include:

Elementary & Middle:

Forbes Elementary (Penn Hills)

· “The Keys to Great Music” – Francesca Fello (4th grade)

· “Miranda the Mouse” – Sarah Depew (4th grade)

· “Shiny, the Rainbow Fish” – Aleena Gula (4th grade)

· “Hally the Hippo” – Kayla Houghtelin (4th grade)

· “Caylee’s Court” – Caylee Walker (4th grade)

St. Edmund”s Academy (Squirrel Hill)

· “El Ciudad de Reciclaje” – Adam Harvey (4th grade)

St. James School (Wilkinsburg)

· “The Endangered Puma” – Malisa Branch (8th grade)

· “The Real Endangered Eagle” – William Young / Assante Stovall (6th grade)

Finley Middle Ringold (Finleyville)

· “Keep Recycling” – Jarod Tkach / Nick Scabilloni (8th grade)

High School:

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Coraopolis)

· “Phoenix” – Mallory Praskovich (12th grade)

· “Demeter” – Kristin DiSanto / Brittany Smith (11th/12th grade)

The semi-finalists’ work will be displayed at the AWMA Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from June 26-28, and judges will select the top three from the elementary and middle school division and one finalist from the high school division.

Winners will receive a ribbon, certificate and other prizes in a special awards ceremony.

“This was a great opportunity to instill the benefits of recycling in our younger generations. Sustainability is such an important value that we all need to embrace, and this event is just one way we can help educate the community on the many options they can participate in to help conserve resources,” said Shema Krinsky, marketing director, Mall at Robinson. “Sustainability is one of our core values and we continuously strive to help make the areas we live and work better places.”

“We were delighted to again partner with the Mall at Robinson and the Air & Waste Management Association to provide this opportunity for area students to express their knowledge and creativity about recycling,” said David Mazza, Western Regional Director for PRC. “Recycling conserves natural resources, saves energy and landfill space, and has a positive impact on the overall environmental health of the region.”

5/4/2007