Local High School Students Awarded Top Honors in State Sculpture Recycling Contest

Several Carroll County High Schools recently competed and placed in Maryland Department of the Environment's 10th Annual "Rethink Recycling" sculpture contest.

The contest challenges Maryland high school students to use recycled materials to create artistic and innovative sculptures. This year 65 entries from 29 different high schools across the State were on display. A complete list of participating schools is at the end of the release.

"Maryland citizens and businesses prevent about 40 percent of our waste from going into landfills and incinerators by recycling, which helps to save energy and reduce green house gas emissions," said MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers. 

"If not for the creativity and energy of these students, the materials used to make these sculptures would have ended up as trash that pollutes our air, land and water. I applaud all the teachers and students here today for doing their part to promote environmental protection by turning everyday trash into beautiful works of art."

The winners from schools in Carroll County are:

• First Place - Creativity Category: Crystal Blackwood, 12th grader at , for her "Reflections of Africa" sculpture made from records, compact discs, PVC pipe, and cardboard.
• First Place - Use of Materials: Olivia Borum, 10th grader at South Carroll High School in Carroll County, for her sculpture "A Simpler Time" made of reused puzzle pieces and buttons.
• Second Place – Use of Materials: Ryan Dunn, 12th grader at in Carroll County, for his sculpture "Countdown to our Self-Manufactured Downfall."

First place winners received a Nook Color and second place winners received refurbished laptop computers donated by sponsor, e-Structors.

Sponsors who donated prizes, funding, and refreshments for this year’s contest were: Giant Food, Constellation Energy, Maryland, Delaware, DC Beverage Association, The American Visionary Art Museum, The American Cleaning Institute, e-Structors, Inc., Maryland Recycling Network, Waste Management Inc., Lori Scozzofava, and Rehrig Pacific Company.

Contest judges tasked with determining the winners of the contest based on creativity, use of materials, and workmanship included program director and on-air personality John Klug from 100.7 The Bay FM, working artist and retired art teacher Barbara L. Cox, and MDE Secretary Summers.