PA CleanWays announced Nathan David Renaudin from Mapplewood Senior High School, Crawford County is the recipient of the 2007 Sue Wiseman Scholarship.

Nathan received the $1,000 award for the initiation of a massive tire reclamation project in his community.

The goal of the project was to coordinate a volunteer force to remove over 6,000 tires from a community tire pile and arrange to have them processed into crumb rubber for use in surfaces for playgrounds, tracks, and stadiums.

In preparation for the cleanup, Nathan submitted and received a grant from the Milikin Foundation to cover associated costs and recruited Enviva Materials, a materials recovery and processing company based in Ohio, to haul and process the tires. Enviva donated their services.

On October 6, 2006, Nathan coordinated 200 students and 50 community volunteers and in less than 3 hours the tires were stacked on 4 tractor trailer trucks bound for Youngtown, Ohio.

When asked if this project has changed his environmental views, Nathan responded, “This project did not really change my views on the environment’s importance, rather, it amplified the concept that we need to participate and work together in saving our world and that even in a small community large improvements can be made if one person is willing to take the first step.”

Nathan credits his biology instructor for the vision of the project and is quick to give credit to three seniors who helped implement his idea and served as team leaders. Nathan plans to attend Clarion University this fall to major in communications and minor in ecology.

Applicants were judged on initiative and self-motivation, ability to demonstrate leadership, commitment to the environment, use of local resources, partnerships formed, and the project’s ability to educate the public.

PA CleanWays extends many thanks to its judging team: Sue Wiseman, founder of PA CleanWays; Lisa Vinkler-Dubich, Derry Area School District science teacher; and Pat Chapaitis, PA CleanWays board member.

The Sue Wiseman Scholarship is an annual $1,000 award that honors youth who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to reducing littering and illegal dumping. The scholarship is open to Pennsylvania youth, ages 16-21, who have initiated and carried out personal project(s) that address littering, illegal dumping, recycling, proper disposal, beautification, or education. An education project must address one of the other topics listed.

Applications and project requirements are due May 1, of each year. Application forms are available electronically at www.pacleanways.org.

The scholarship is named for Sue Wiseman, whose own commitment and dedication to a cleaner environment led to the founding of PA CleanWays, a statewide nonprofit organization that helps people who are ready to take action against littering and illegal dumping in their communities.

Since 1990, PA CleanWays has been dedicated to empowering people to resolve and prevent these destructive problems. PA CleanWays community-based approach has resulted in the removal of over 650 illegal dump sites statewide. More than 35,600 volunteers helped remove and properly dispose of more than 9,900 tons of trash and over 314,700 tires.

For more information, visit the PA CleanWays website.

8/17/2007