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Maryland Department of the Environment

Maryland Department of the Environment Honors Student Artists at “Rethink Recycling” Sculpture Contest

South Carroll High School Student Wins Top Prize; Annual Awards Promote Recycling, Creativity among Students

BALTIMORE, MD (Nov. 22, 2024) – Hayley Boore, a student at South Carroll High School, won the grand prize at the Maryland Department of the Environment’s 23nd annual “Rethink Recycling” Sculpture Contest today at Montgomery Park in Baltimore City. The winning entry, a diorama made with cardboard, popsicle sticks, bottle caps, plastic straws and other reused materials, was entitled “Artists All the Way Down.”

Students from Baltimore and Carroll counties won the top prizes in four other categories. This year, 55 entries from 15 high schools were on display. The students made their sculptures from reused materials.

“These student sculptures combine the power and beauty of art with the environmental benefits of reusing and recycling materials,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. “Maryland continues to excel in reducing the amount of waste going to landfills, which helps to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gases.”

The grand prize winner received a $500 Amazon gift card and a $250 check from the Maryland Recycling Network.

The category first-place winners, each of whom received $200 Amazon gift cards, were:

  • Creativity: Wesley Robertson, Century High School, for “The Processor”
  • Workmanship: Sal D’Anna, Jemicy School, for “Crab”
  • Use of Materials: Ashlynn Kief, Manchester Valley High School, for “A Kiss from Mother Nature”
  • People’s Choice: Kate Gugliotta, Liberty High School, for “Maryland, My Maryland”

The second-place winners in each category, who received $100 Amazon gift cards, were:

  • Creativity: Lily Wilpon, Glenelg High School, for “Rooted in Literature”
  • Workmanship: Maddie Duffallo, C. Milton Wright High School, for “Serenity”
  • Use of Materials: Zoe Rasnake, Manchester Valley High School, for “11 Sustainability Street”
  • People’s Choice: Isabelle Savage, Southern Garrett High School, for “Manta Ray”

All winners also received two passes to the National Aquarium. All participants received a $25 Amazon gift card.

To see photos of the winning entries, click here:

Sponsors of the event were: the American Cleaning Institute; Helpsy; the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association; the Maryland Recycling Network;, the National Aquarium; and Waste Management.

“ACI is proud to continue supporting the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Sculpture Contest,” said Nathan Sell, Senior Director of Sustainability for the American Cleaning Institute. “Recycling is an essential part of keeping products we use in our homes out of landfills. MDE is bringing much-needed attention to recycling, helping curb plastic waste.”

Contest judges were: Chelsea Anspach, communications manager, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore; John Lewis, curator, writer and former teacher at the Maryland Institute College of Art; local artists Alex French, Paige Hayden and BB LaMartina; and art curator Lisa Clark.

Since 2001, MDE has celebrated America Recycles Day by hosting the annual “Rethink Recycling” Sculpture Contest. High school students from across Maryland are invited to participate by creating sculptures made of recycled and reusable materials. The competition is just one way MDE educates and empowers the public to reuse and recycle materials that would have otherwise gone into landfills.

To find out what you can do to reduce, reuse, recycle and buy recycled products, visit MDE’s recycling webpage. The department’s mission is to protect and restore the environment for the health and well-being of all Marylanders.



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