Missouri's war on litter has some new, creative soldiers, and they're armed with paintbrushes, recycled materials, and a mission to keep the environment clean. According to MoDOT, schools from Union, Mountain View, Ellsinore, and Glasgow have emerged as the victors in the state's "No MOre Trash!" trash-can-decorating contest. These young environmental champions have transformed ordinary trash receptacles into vivid symbols of litter prevention, earning their schools not just state-wide recognition but also a tidy sum of prize money.
The contest, part of a broader campaign to reduce littering in Missouri, saw students from across the grades compete in categories from kindergarten to high school. Shelly Jensen's 1st graders at Immaculate Conception Catholic School won the K-2 division with their "Critters Against Litter" project, where they crafted litter into delightful critters. The school was rewarded with a $200 prize. A similar sum was awarded to Bailey Wagner's 4th grade Science Club at Mountain View Elementary School for their "How To Train Your Trash Can" entry, inspired by a well-loved animated dragon, as they explained in a statement obtained by MoDOT.
In the 6-8 grade category, it was the "Don't get HOOKED on Litter" initiative that snagged both the category win and the grand prize for East Carter R-II School District in Ellsinore, led by Sara Hoefer. The project incorporated a cleanup effort and was hailed for championing environmental stewardship. The school's haul included a $200 reward for the category win along with $600 and a trophy for the grand prize. The innovative project will also be displayed at the Missouri State Fair, giving it further exposure, according to MoDOT.
The oldest set of students, guided by Rex Beltz, represented the Glasgow School District with their "River Recycle" creation, bagging the 9-12 grade category win. They aimed to engage the community in maintaining the cleanliness of their local river by providing specially designed receptacles to encourage responsible waste disposal. The district's efforts were recognized with a prize of $200, and as Beltz detailed in the MoDOT announcement, it's a step towards a healthier river ecosystem.
