PA CleanWays announced this week that William Gumbert from California Area High School, Washington County was chosen as the $1,000 Sue Wiseman Scholarship recipient.

Pictured in the photo are Susan Carmichael of PA CleaWays who presented the award to William.

William received the highest cumulative score among 19 applicants for the reclamation of a dumpsite located along Allenport Hollow Creek which he transformed into a quarter mile long wildlife educational nature trail.

After cleaning up over 20 tons of trash and debris, 500 tires, and 10 tons of scrap metal, William built bridges, trailhead signs, picnic areas, as well as informational signs about the trail, native wildlife, and the impacts of illegal dumping.

William worked with local businesses, family, friends, fellow Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Allenport residents, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to achieve his goal.

When asked if this project has changed his environmental views, William responded, “I have learned not to become complacent about garbage. Garbage is not a natural part of our landscape. We have become desensitized to seeing litter along our highways and garbage dumped over hillsides and the shores of our waterways. We all need to get involved and make a difference in our world one piece of trash at a time.”

William plans to attend the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport to study Heavy Equipment Operation and Diesel Technology.

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 our judging team: Sue Wiseman, founder of PA CleanWays; Tim Savisky, PA CleanWays board member and professor of biology at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg; and Shannon Reiter, PA CleanWays President.

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 a personal project that addresses littering, illegal dumping, recycling, proper disposal, beautification, or education. 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 9,900 tons of trash and 344,343 tires with the help of more than 41,500 volunteers.

6/13/2008