7th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced

The 7th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest is underway. Pictured is the winning design for 2015 designed by Emily Ruiz, a 7th grader from Eastbrook Middle School.

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce the 7th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that attend either public or private schools participating in the Target Recycling at School program in Whitfield County. 

Students are invited to design a billboard in keeping with the spirit of America Recycles Day, which is celebrated yearly on November 15. The top design out of the three grade levels will be displayed during the month of November on two billboards in Whitfield County.

Schools in Whitfield County that can participate include Eastbrook Middle, New Hope Middle, North Whitfield Middle, Valley Point Middle, Westside Middle, Dalton Middle, Northstar School, Crossroads Academy, Christian Heritage School, and Learning Tree School.

During the 2015 contest, Eastbrook Middle School 7th grader, Emily Ruiz, won first place overall. Her design, chosen out of 162 entries includes the phrase “I want to be recycled” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is eye catching and very colorful showing a plastic bottle inside a recycling bin with a soda can following it thinking that it also wants to be recycled. 

Themes for this year include, “I want to be recycled.”, and “I recycle with Recycling Ben!” First, second, and third place prizes will be given in each of the three grade levels. The grand prize is chosen from the three first place winners. 

The Contest Guide with an entry form can be downloaded at www.DWSWA.org.  Deadline for entries is October 17, 2016. There is no entry fee, however an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork. Only artwork submitted directly from a school representative will be accepted. Winners will be announced on October 24. 

For more information contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org. To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

Billboard Design Winner for 2015 Contest Announced

This is a mockup of what the artwork will look like on the 2015 billboard.

Eastbrook Middle School 7th grade students who placed in the billboard contest are pictured with their artwork. Left to Right: Montserrat Adame, Elena Cabreo, and Emily Ruiz.

Eastbrook Middle School 8th grade students who placed in the billboard contest are pictured with their artwork. Left to Right: Reina Paniagua, Stephanie Sullivan, and Denise Hernandez.

Dalton Middle School student Jamie A. Smith placed first for the 6th grade level.

(Dalton, GA, October 30, 2015) – Eastbrook Middle School 7th grader, Emily Ruiz, is the overall winner of the 2015 America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest hosted by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s program Target Recycling at School. The winning design will be displayed on two billboards in Whitfield County along Glenwood Ave. starting November 2nd for at least one month.

Ms. Ruiz’s design, which was chosen out of 162 entries, includes the phrase “I want to be recycled” one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is eye catching and very colorful showing a plastic bottle inside a recycling bin with a soda can following it thinking that it also wants to be recycled. 

The billboard design contest typically has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner from each grade level. Due to the high number of entries received from Eastbrook Middle School the all students from that school will receive an ice cream party on November 16, during the week of America Recycles Day.

The seven winners, listed below, received a certificate of participation and a gift bag with items made from recycled materials. The first place overall was selected from the first place design from each grade level.

6th grade:

• 1st Place – Jamie A. Smith, Dalton Middle School

7th grade:

• 1st Place and Overall Winner – Emily Ruiz, Eastbrook Middle School
• 2nd Place – Elena Cabreo, Eastbrook Middle School
• 3rd Place – Montserrat Adame, Eastbrook Middle School 

8th grade:

• 1st Place – Reina Paniagua, Eastbrook Middle School
• 2nd Place – Stephanie Sullivan, Eastbrook Middle School
• 3rd Place – Denise Hernandez, Eastbrook Middle School

This is the sixth year of the design contest open to Whitfield County middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade attending either a public or private school that recycles with Target Recycling at School. The program provides recycling collection services and environmental education opportunities to schools in Whitfield County. For more information call 706-278-5001 or visit www.dwswa.org.

America Recycles Day is a community-driven event dedicated to promoting recycling awareness, commitment, and action in the U.S. thru its partnership with Keep America Beautiful. It’s celebrated annually on November 15. For more information on recycling, and to take the pledge to recycle visit www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org.   

2015 School Beautification Grant Winners Announced

(Dalton, GA, September 18, 2015) – Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural School Beautification Grants for Fall 2015. The committee for Beautification and Community Greening established mini-grants in celebration of National Planting Day, which began on September 12.

Public and private schools in the Dalton, GA and Whitfield County were invited to apply for funding to help implement a project related to planting native plants. Beautification grants ranged from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $250. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful has made these grants available to improve the visual aspects of our community by supporting initiatives that beautify the environment.

This year seven local schools were awarded a cash grant. Below is a list of schools that were awarded a grant and the name of the their project.

1.)  Antioch Elementary – Pollinator Habitat and Classroom

2.)  Eastbrook Middle School – Mustang Magic: Making Plants Change Color

3.)  Dawnville Elementary – Dawnville Reading Garden

4.)  Brookwood Elementary – Color Spectrum Garden

5.)  Coahulla Creek High School – Colt Horeshoe Planter

6.)  Westside Elementary – Play in the Shade

7.)  Dalton High School – Amplify Your Assets

Projects will be completed by December 4 and each recipient will submit a project summary by December 15 to showcase their work. Visit Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s website www.KeepDaltonWhtifieldBeautiful.org or follow them on Facebook to get updates on the progress of these projects.  

National Planting Day is celebrated annually by Keep America Beautiful in the fall as an opportunity to encourage volunteers to plant native species restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. Learn more about this event at www.kab.org.

6th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced

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The 6th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest is underway. Pictured is the winning design for 2014 designed by Reina Paniagua, a 7th grader from Eastbrook Middle School.

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce it’s 6th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that attend either public or private schools participating in the Target Recycling at School program in Whitfield County. 

Students are invited to design a billboard in keeping with the spirit of America Recycles Day, which is celebrated yearly on November 15. The top design out of the three grade levels will be displayed for at least four weeks on two billboards in Whitfield County in early November.

Schools in Whitfield County that can participate include Eastbrook Middle, New Hope Middle, North Whitfield Middle, Valley Point Middle, Westside Middle, Dalton Middle, Northstar School, Crossroads academy, Christian Heritage School, and Learning Tree School.

During the 2014 contest, Eastbrook Middle School 7th grader, Reina Paniagua, won first place overall.  Her design, chosen out of 162 entries includes the phrase “I want to be recycled” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is eye catching and very colorful with a group of recyclable materials shouting out their desire to be recycled in a blue speech bubble.  

Themes for this year include, “I want to be recycled.”, and “I recycle with Recycling Ben!” First, second, and third place prizes will be given in each of the three grade levels. The grand prize is chosen from the three first place winners. 

The Contest Guide with an entry form can be downloaded at http://www.dwswa.org/target-recycling-at-school/.  Deadline for entries is Friday, October 9, 2015. There is no entry fee, however an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork. Only artwork submitted directly from a school representative will be accepted. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 19, 2015. 

For more information contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org. To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

School Beautification Grants Available Thru Keep Dalton Whitfield Beautiful

(Dalton, GA, August 12, 2015) – Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is pleased to announce the availability of School Beautification Grants for Fall 2015. The committee for Beautification and Community Greening has established mini-grants in celebration of National Planting Day. Beautification grants may range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $250.

Public and private schools in the Dalton, GA and Whitfield County area are invited to apply for funding that can help implement a project related to planting native plants. A school club, a single classroom, whole grade level or the entire school can organize projects.

National Planting Day is celebrated annually by Keep America Beautiful in the fall as an opportunity to encourage volunteers to plant native species restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is making these grants available to improve the visual aspects of our community through projects that beautify and clean the environment.

Knowing that children play a very important part in making this happen we want them to reap the benefits by participating in a project for their very own school. Beautification projects could include establishing or supporting a school garden, planting flowers in an outdoor space, or using plants for educational purposes.

Grant applications must be submitted online no later than Friday, September 4 at www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org using the form on the Beautification page. For questions regarding the form or any aspects of your proposed project call executive director Liz Swafford at 706-278-5001. Grant winners will be announced September 17. Projects must be completed by December 4 and a project summery is to be submitted by December 15.