Tag Archives: elementary school

2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Winners Share Their Story

Students from kindergarten, middle, and high schools across North Carolina were invited to submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state for the sixth annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest hosted by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC).

Students were asked to create art focused on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep the air clean. NCCETC congratulated three artists located in Kernersville, Hampstead, and Cary, NC. 

Heather Brutz, Director of NCCETC’s Clean Transportation Program, created the Student Art Contest while drawing on her previous experience as a middle school teacher. “The art contest is an engaging way to get young people involved in spreading awareness about the ways we can reduce air pollution from vehicles,” Brutz said. 

Air pollution can harm children and adults in many ways. The American Lung Association reports that particle pollution and ozone are a threat to human health at every stage of life, increasing the risk of premature birth, causing or worsening lung and heart disease, and shortening lives. According to the 2023 “State of the Air” report, more than 1 in 3 Americans live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. 

“Clean air is vital for health,” said Brutz. “Children are not only more susceptible to harm from air pollution, but are also more likely to be exposed to it than adults. Exposure to air pollution for children can be harmful to the growth and development or their lungs and breathing ability, increasing their chances of getting asthma, which is a life-long detriment to their health.”

Brutz tried a variety of different teaching methods to capture students’ attention during her teaching days, and artwork emerged as a powerful tool to do so. “That thinking is what inspired me to first come up with the idea for the art contest- I wanted to find a new way to reach our audience than what we were already doing,” she explained. “Young people have a lot of creativity and I wanted to capture that self-expression and merge it with an opportunity to learn more about transportation technologies and practices that help improve air quality.”

NCCETC received submissions from students in elementary, middle and high schools across the state. “I’m very pleased with the number of submissions we received this year. More than 80 elementary, middle and high school students participated,” Brutz said. “It was a very competitive year for selecting winners, and while we are only able to choose three winners to have their artwork displayed on billboards, every single young artist who took time to participate should feel proud of their contribution.” 

To learn what clean air means to them, we asked the winners some questions about their artwork:

Elementary School Winner – Sophia Mira DeBusk | Piney Grove Elementary School | Kernersville, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I wanted to enter the contest because of how recent incidents (of forest fires before in CA now in Canada) have impacted our air quality to a lower condition than before. This makes me sad, and I wanted to attract attention to this problem. I believe we can make a difference through art.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

I wanted to show that it’s important to prevent air pollution. At the center of my picture, there is a car. That car is dividing tree to two as if it is killing it, but you can also see flowers are coming from exhaust because if we can use clean energy, cars may not be that harmful to nature. 

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

“Keep Our Air Clean” means to keep the atmosphere healthy. I think keeping our air clean is important because breathing harmful gasses is not good for you or the wildlife around you.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

I have been composting as much as I can so that less waste goes to landfills to be burnt. I also ride the bus to school so that there are less pollutants coming from our car. Also, my family and I plant trees because trees are lungs of the nature and help keep air clean. I planted my first tree when I was 4 with Virginia Tech community on a creek week.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was so excited that I jumped! I didn’t really expect it, but I am so happy that I have won now.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope people will take it as advice to help keep our air healthy along with me and many others who believe good air quality is important. I hope they can really see that we have a beautiful world to live in, and we need to treat our nature kindly if we want to live healthily. This is important not only for people but also animals and plants.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I think having my artwork up on a billboard will do something to get all people of North Carolina to help renew our air to a better state. Thanks for this contest. It made me think more about our air.

Middle School Winner – Caiya Medlin | Surf City Middle School | Hampstead, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered because I think the contest really has a great impact on North Carolina. Art is an amazing way to express ideas, and so I am using this opportunity to speed awareness on global issues such as idling cars. 

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

I created an art piece with cars and the message “Stop Idling” on billboards throughout our state to raise awareness about the harmful effects of vehicle idling on the environment. My goal is to inspire people to take action and change their habits. Let’s work together to reduce unnecessary idling, protect air quality, and create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

“Keep Our Air Clean” means ensuring the preservation of air quality for the well-being of our planet and all living beings. To me, it signifies the responsibility we have to maintain a sustainable and healthy environment by minimizing pollution and harmful emissions.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

In my life, I am constantly using clean modes of transportation to lower my carbon footprint. My town, Surf City, is becoming a more pedestrian-friendly town everyday. I often find myself walking to get dinner, or to the beach. I am Also an avid user of my trusty skateboard, that can get me anywhere I need to go.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was so excited! I honestly had to double check to see if the email was correct, because I was so blown away. I have been entering this art contest for 3 years now, so when I have finally won, I felt really accomplished!

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope that when people see my art work, they will just stop to think. Well, not actually stop, we are on the road! I just want people to recognize the meaning of my work and what it stands for.

High School Winner – Audrey Song | Cary Academy | Cary, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered this contest because I was motivated to utilize my artistic abilities and contribute to the cause of promoting clean air. The breathtaking beauty of nature that surrounds me daily, too, serves as a constant inspiration. I firmly believe in the transformative power of art to inspire change and raise awareness. Thus, I saw this contest as a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact through my artwork.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

Through my artwork, I aim to convey the simple importance of keeping our air clean in a way that is accessible and relatable. I wanted to express that maintaining clean air can be a manageable task without excessive effort or complex solutions. Instead, it should be viewed as something enjoyable, simple, and integral to our daily lives.

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

To me, “Keep Our Air Clean” signifies an appreciation for life and the well-being of our future generations. It encompasses the notion that clean air is essential not only for our planet’s health but also for our communities thriving. By spreading the message to keep our air clean, we are actively taking responsibility for preserving our limited yet essential resources and acknowledging the action we need to take.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

Absolutely! One of my favorite activities is walking, especially hiking. Recently, I went on a week-long hiking/camping trip in Linville Gorge with my classmates through the Wilderness Club at my school, Cary Academy, to appreciate the areas of nature where our air is clean. These experiences serve as a constant reminder of the importance of our environment and motivate me to make sustainable choices such as walking, using public transportation, and generally adopting energy-efficient practices.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

When I received the news of winning the contest, I was just overwhelmed with excitement. It was an incredible honor, and I still find it hard to believe that my artwork was selected as the winning piece for the High School age group. Sharing my voice and contributing to the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s mission is truly a humbling and gratifying experience.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope to raise awareness and foster a sense of environmental consciousness among the public through my art. When people see my artwork, I aim to capture their attention through visual appeal and inspire them to take action and positively impact their lives by using less fossil fuel-powered transportation. By provoking conversations and spreading awareness, I aspire to instigate a ripple effect of change that motivates individuals to prioritize and actively work toward keeping our air clean.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the NC Clean Energy Center and everyone involved in making this contest possible. This opportunity is not only incredible for me but for many other aspiring artists as well. I am also immensely thankful for the Wilderness Club offered at my school, which has provided me with fantastic experiences and inspired me to be more environmentally conscious. Participating in the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s Art Contest and having my artwork recognized has been a true honor.

Vote Now: “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Polls Open

The polls are open for the “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest – vote now for your favorites!

Vote for your favorite art in each age category (kindergarten through high school). Artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples: walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more.

Winners in each category will be featured on billboards across the state!

The contest poll closes at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17.

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on nccleantech.ncsu.edu and FuelWhatMatters.org. For more information or any questions, email Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.

Vote Now to Support a Student’s Artwork→

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Submit Your Artwork through May 8 for the 2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest

DEADLINE EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 8, 2023

North Carolina students from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state

Show how you can help keep the air clean for Earth Day this year! Submissions will now be accepted through Monday, May 8 at 11:59pm.

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has officially launched the 6th Annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest, where students in North Carolina from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state!

Students’ artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples include walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more. Please make artwork family-friendly, non-partisan and non-copyrighted. You can learn about the alternatives at cleantransportation.org or fuelwhatmatters.org or see examples from past winners and best practices for art submissions here.

Students now have until Monday, May 8 at 11:59 to submit their artwork. Please read the rules below to find out how to submit your artwork. Public voting will begin on Wednesday, May 10 and last through Wednesday, May 17 – stay tuned for a link to vote once submissions have closed!

For more information or questions please email Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on www.facebook.com/NCCleanTech and www.FuelWhatMatters.org!

View the 2023 Student Art Contest announcement for guidelines and specifications as well as contest rules.

Submit Your Artwork for the 2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest

North Carolina students from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state.

Show how you can help keep the air clean for Earth Day this year!

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has officially launched the 6th Annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest, where students in North Carolina from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state!

Students’ artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples include walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more. Please make artwork family-friendly, non-partisan and non-copyrighted. You can learn about the alternatives at cleantransportation.org or fuelwhatmatters.org or see examples from past winners and best practices for art submissions here.

Students now have until Monday, May 8 at 11:59 to submit their artwork. Please read the rules below to find out how to submit your artwork. Public voting will begin on Wednesday, May 10 and last through Wednesday, May 17 – stay tuned for a link to vote once submissions have closed!

For more information or questions please email Heather Brutz at hmbrutz@ncsu.edu

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on www.facebook.com/NCCleanTech and www.FuelWhatMatters.org!

GUIDELINES & SPECIFICATIONS

The winner will be chosen based on:

  • Relevance and appropriateness of the message, judged by NCCETC and our panel of judges
  • Visual design, judged by NCCETC and our panel of judges
  • Public votes on our Facebook account

ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS

Artwork in a more horizontal rectangular shape (about the shape of a billboard) is recommended.

The student may choose the medium for their artwork but a 2-D work is best for billboard display. Digitally made art is accepted in addition to hand-drawn or painted work.

Recommended dimensions:

  • 400h x 840w pixels at 72 ppi
  • 400h x 1400w pixels at 72 ppi 
  • Save as JPG, PNG or BMP at maximum quality in RGB mode

Note: Make sure to leave space in the submission to include the “Keep Our Air Clean” tagline on the final billboards if it is not incorporated into your artwork.

RULES

  1. Students must reside in North Carolina and be enrolled in homeschool, elementary, middle or high school within state lines.
  2. Artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles.
  3. Please make artwork family-friendly, non-partisan and non-copyrighted.
  4. Only one entry per student is allowed and all submissions must be made via the submission form or by emailing Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.
  5. Teachers may submit artwork on behalf of their students through email or the submission form; all artwork submitted must return a signed permission form with each submission.
  6. Artists who are over 18 or parents/legal guardians submitting on behalf of their children can submit artwork in one of two ways:
    1. You may email artwork directly to Amira Ferjani at  aferjan@ncsu.edu, please include a signed permission form with each submission.
    2. You may submit artwork via the Facebook submission poll. By submitting this work, you will be agreeing to the legal terms listed below. 

Legal Terms

By submitting this photograph, image, graphic, or video (collectively the “work”) you hereby agree to the following:

  • You certify and warrant that you are the legal guardian of the minor who is submitting the artwork or are the artist and are legally an adult.
  • You certify and warrant that the work is your work or your child’s own original creative work and does not violate or infringe the copyright or other proprietary or intellectual property rights of others.
  • You retain all copyright and equivalent rights but grant permission for NC State to use, reproduce, distribute, and/or release the work to the public in any manner and in any medium without payment of any fee, and in perpetuity.  
  • North Carolina State University reserves the right to use contestants’ names and works for educational publicity and/or promotional purposes, including website or exhibition of winning entries. You understand that the works will be shared with reporters covering these awards and for promotion of the competition itself. You hereby give North Carolina State University nonexclusive rights to use yours or your child’s name, likenesses, quotes and submissions for educational publicity and/or promotional purposes. This includes but is not limited to website display, print materials and exhibits.
  • You hereby agree to indemnify NC State, its trustees, officers, agents, and employees, from any and all claims, demands, and liabilities (including attorneys’ fees) incurred as a result of a final judgment or settlement or any claim or legal proceeding arising out of or resulting from a breach or claimed breach of the foregoing representations and warranties.

2022 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Winners Share Their Story

In the fifth year of the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC)’s “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest, students in North Carolina from kindergarten through high school submitted their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state. Students were asked to create art focused on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep the air clean. NCCETC congratulated three artists located in Morrisville, Weddington and Raleigh, N.C. 

The art contest originated from Heather Brutz, Interim Director of the Clean Transportation Program at NCCETC, who thought of the Student Art Contest while recalling her previous experience as a middle school teacher. “I hoped the contest could engage young people’s creativity to help spread awareness about the ways we can reduce air pollution from vehicles,” Brutz said. 

Air pollution is one of the ways climate change impacts our health today, with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reporting almost 9 out of 10 people who live in urban areas worldwide are affected by air pollution. The NIEHS explains air pollution can affect lung development and increase the amount and seriousness of lung disease and asthma. Children, the elderly, and people living in areas with high levels of air pollution are especially susceptible. 

“Clean air is vital for health,” Brutz said. “This is true for people of all ages, but there is research that shows that exposure to air pollution for kids increases their chances of getting asthma, which affects their health for the rest of their lives.”

As a teacher, Brutz would try a variety of different teaching methods to capture students’ attention. “I applied that same thinking when I first came up with the idea for the art contest- I wanted to engage a different audience than we sometimes interact with in our other educational activities at the Center and engage that audience in a different way than what we were already doing,” explained Brutz. “Artwork is a powerful tool and I was excited to find a way to work together with young artists to help spread the message about ways we can keep our air clean.” 

NCCETC received submissions from students in elementary, middle and high schools across the state. “It’s always rewarding to see how creative students are with their work,” said Brutz. “Although we are only able to choose three winners whose artwork will be displayed on billboards, every single young artist who submitted should feel proud of their contribution.”

To learn what clean air means to them, we asked the winners some questions about their artwork:

Elementary School Winner – Sudeep Asam | Morrisville Elementary School | Morrisville, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I want to express my feelings in the “keep our air clean” contest.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

My artwork expresses how pollution spoils our environment and ways to stop the pollution and be a solution.

What does “keep our air clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

If our air is clean, people and nature stay healthy.

Are you doing things in your own life – like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc?

Yes, I do walking and biking.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I feel very happy.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I am hoping my artwork inspires some of the people and will start working on stopping pollution.

Anything else you’d like to share.

Everyone should take a pledge to stop the pollution and be a solution.

Middle School Winner – Evie Frain | Weddington Middle School | Weddington, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered this contest with the purpose to show the progression of pollution, because it is commonly seen as something intangible. People often think that climate change, pollution, and global warming are far off in the future, when in reality they aren’t.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

My artwork is meant to express that the current rate of fossil fuel burning is dangerous to both the lives of humans and the environment.

What does “keep our air clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

To me, “keep our air clean” stresses the importance of conscientious efforts today. Clean air is needed for all living organisms, so the viability of the future depends on us acting now. 

Are you doing things in your own life – like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc?

I try to carpool and limit the amount of places I have to go.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was surprised, I had never expected to win. I only put my artwork into the contest because I am passionate about switching to clean energy.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope people will rethink some of their own personal uses of fossil fuels and find a way to limit them.

Anything else you’d like to share.

Besides limiting fossil fuels, it’s also environmentally beneficial to recycle and reuse items.

High School Winner – Emilyn Haddock | Broughton High School | Raleigh, NC 

Why did you want to enter the contest?

​The reason why I wanted to enter the contest was to get the chance to express my artwork. There are rare times in my life I was able to have a chance to submit my artwork into a contest. Usually when I enter my creations, I do it for the sole purpose of expressing my work and have a chance for someone to review. It is nice to see my artwork being appreciated and to be seen by people.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

​My meaning behind my artwork is to have a conscious decision between riding your bike to work or to your local grocery store then potentially spending more money on gas and burn more carbon fuel.

What does “keep our air clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

​The phrase “keep our air clean” means that keeping toxic fumes in our air we breathe. We take clean air for granted and if we don’t appreciate and take measures of keeping it clean, masks will be more ingrained to our daily routine then the pandemic. It is important to keep our air clean because having unclean air can cause health problems, terrible living conditions and people with breathing conditions will have a much harder time going outside. Keeping our air clean also means some caring about other peoples health by going to measures of reducing carbon fuel and debris in the air.

Are you doing things in your own life – like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc?

​Yes! I have bought my own bicycle so that I can easily travel to my local stores. Recently, I have the responsibility of buying grocery items for my parents to make dinner so having a bike makes it 10 times more faster to get to my destination and 10 times more fun.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

​It was actually two months after I found out that I won the contest. I wish I found out sooner because I was traveling with my parents over the summer outside of America, so my phone was practically dead. Having to find out now is pretty exciting and gave me butterflies in my stomach.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

​I hope that the next time they drive by my billboard, they would’ve use their bikes or scooters instead for the next time they wanna go out. Riding your bike is a totally different experience than just driving your car.

Anything else you’d like to share.

​The last thing I wanted to share is, I hope my local government makes more sidewalks or bike lanes for bikers like me that can travel more openly and safer for me to travel. As much as I want to make a good decision on riding my bike instead of driving, I cannot take full advantage of riding my bike to father destinations if there is no extended sidewalks for me to go. If they’re more sidewalks, I my prediction will be that more people will be willing to walk or use their scooters then traveling with cars.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

​It was actually two months after I found out that I won the contest. I wish I found out sooner because I was traveling with my parents over the summer outside of America, so my phone was practically dead. Having to find out now is pretty exciting and gave me butterflies in my stomach.

Anything else you’d like to share.

​The last thing I wanted to share is, I hope my local government makes more sidewalks or bike lanes for bikers like me that can travel more openly and safer for me to travel. As much as I want to make a good decision on riding my bike instead of driving, I cannot take full advantage of riding my bike to father destinations if there is no extended sidewalks for me to go. If they’re more sidewalks, I my prediction will be that more people will be willing to walk or use their scooters then traveling with cars.

Thank you to all you participated in the 2022 Student Art Contest!

Vote Now: 2022 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Polls Open

The polls are open for the “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest – vote now for your favorites!

Vote for your favorite art in each age category (kindergarten through high school). Artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples: walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more.

Winners in each category will be featured on billboards across the state!

The contest poll closes at 11:59 p.m. this Sunday, May 22.

Winners will be announced soon. Stay tuned on nccleantech.ncsu.edu and FuelWhatMatters.org. For more information or any questions, email Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.

Vote Now

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