Reprinted with permission of
the Journal-News
By Linda Ebbing
HAMILTON — For 17 years, Butler County Recycling and Litter
Prevention has challenged fourth- and fifth-grade students from Butler County
schools to turn pieces of trash into works of art through the Recycled
Sculpture Contest.
Close to 400 students participated this year with 34
sculptures making it into the finals. These sculptures are on display at the
Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave. until Thursday. “The
sculptures develop an awareness in students to examine trash and recyclables as
a resource instead of a disposable object,” said Sue Stephenson, program
manager. “In creating the works of art, students have helped save landfill
space, conserved resources and raised community awareness of recycling.”
Winners were selected by judges from the Fitton Art Center
and Butler County Department of Environmental Services. Judges looked for
originality, aesthetic value and creative use of trash, Stephenson said. Butler
County Recycling and Litter Prevention will host a Halloween-themed celebration
at the Fitton Center for the finalists, their parents, teachers, principals and
judges scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Thursday. The awards ceremony begins at
5:15 p.m. Each student who participated receives a certificate; the top six
winners will receive trophies made of recyclable pop cans; and the top three
winners will receive savings bonds.
Participating schools were Adams, Fairfield West, Fillmore,
Hayes, Hopewell, Independence, Lincoln, St. Ann, St. Julie Billiart, St.
Peter in Chains and Queen of Peace elementary schools. Three of the finalists
are students in Lori Geeslin’s fourth-grade class at St. Ann’s Catholic School.
It showed students how items considered trash can be used in other ways and it
was a fun, problem-solving art project, said Principal Donna Weber.
Cathy Mayhugh, director of exhibitions for the Fitton Center, said that the annual event has been held at the center several times. “We really look forward to holding it here because it is one of those interdisciplinary projects that combines the concept of recycling and using ‘stuff’ to create new and artistic items,” Mayhugh said. “Since we are an educational organization, projects like this meet our goals ... they are exactly what we are all about.”