PA CleanWays Announces
Sue Wiseman Scholarship Recipient
Greensburg, PA - August
6, 2007 - PA CleanWays would like to congratulate Nathan
David Renaudin from Mapplewood Senior High School, Crawford
County who was chosen as the 2007 Sue Wiseman Scholarship
recipient. Nathan received the $1,000 award for the initiation
of a massive tire reclamation project in his community.
The goal of the project was to coordinate a volunteer
force to remove over 6,000 tires from a community tire
pile and arrange to have them processed into crumb rubber
for use in surfaces for playgrounds, tracks, and stadiums.
In preparation for the cleanup, Nathan submitted and received
a grant from the Milikin Foundation to cover associated
costs and recruited Enviva Materials, a materials recovery
and processing company based in Ohio, to haul and process
the tires. Enviva donated their services. On October 6,
2006, Nathan coordinated 200 students and 50 community
volunteers and in less than 3 hours the tires were stacked
on 4 tractor trailer trucks bound for Youngtown, Ohio.
When asked if this project has changed his environmental
views, Nathan responded, "This project did not really
change my views on the environment's importance, rather,
it amplified the concept that we need to participate and
work together in saving our world and that even in a small
community large improvements can be made if one person
is willing to take the first step." Nathan credits
his biology instructor for the vision of the project and
is quick to give credit to three seniors who helped implement
his idea and served as team leaders. Nathan plans to attend
Clarion University this fall to major in communications
and minor in ecology.
Applicants were judged on initiative and self-motivation,
ability to demonstrate leadership, commitment to the environment,
use of local resources, partnerships formed, and the project's
ability to educate the public. PA CleanWays extends many
thanks to our judging team: Sue Wiseman, founder of PA
CleanWays; Lisa Vinkler-Dubich, Derry Area School District
science teacher; and Pat Chapaitis, PA CleanWays board
member.
The Sue Wiseman Scholarship is an annual $1,000 award
that honors youth who have demonstrated outstanding commitment
and dedication to reducing littering and illegal dumping.
The scholarship is open to Pennsylvania youth, ages 16-21,
who have initiated and carried out personal project(s)
that address littering, illegal dumping, recycling, proper
disposal, beautification, or education. An education project
must address one of the other topics listed.
Applications and project requirements are due May 1, of
each year. Application forms are available electronically
at www.pacleanways.org.
The scholarship is named for Sue Wiseman, whose own commitment
and dedication to a cleaner environment led to the founding
of PA CleanWays,
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PA CleanWays is a nonprofit
organization that helps people who are ready to take action
against illegal dumping and littering in their communities.
Since 1990, PA CleanWays has been dedicated to empowering
people to resolve and prevent these destructive problems.
For more information about PA CleanWays and its programs,
visit www.pacleanways.org.
