The Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) announced the winners of their First Annual NBMUA “Go Green, Save Green” Poster Contest on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at North Bergen High School. Artworks by a total of 12 prize winners appear in the MUA’s 2013 calendar, including 35 honorable mentions. Grand prize winner eighth grader Mouhammadou Dado’s artwork not only appears in the calendar but is also represented on the side of a MUA recycling truck.
The First Annual “Go Green, Save Green” Poster Contest began on Monday, Oct. 15 and ran for a month until Nov. 15 in honor of America Recycles Day. Thousands of student submissions were narrowed down to a few. Winning posters demonstrated that the student grasped the concept of saving money through recycling.
Members of the MUA, Board of Commissioners, Mayor Nicholas Sacco, and township residents were invited to vote.
Staff involved with the contest were Superintendent Robert Dandorph, Assistant Superintendent Sacco, Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator Heather Carline, and the district’s art teachers.
The winners will have their artwork appear in the 2013 MUA calendar, with a winning poster for each month. The calendars were distributed throughout the North School District this month.
“We want to come up with fun and creative ways to get students to become life-long recyclers.” – Christina Filip of Vision Media
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“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce the first annual North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) ‘Go Green, Save Green’ Poster Contest,” said Executive Director Frank Pestana in the calendar. “We hope that this contest was not only a learning experience for our students, but will help them relate to the many real world benefits of recycling.”
The funds for the prizes were provided by a $156,715 Tonnage Grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection in order to help implement and further enhance recycling efforts.
Once the 12 winners were selected, the one who best illustrated the “Go Green, Save Green” concept was chosen. Winner Mouhammadou Dado also received an Apple iPad.
“We want to come up with fun and creative ways to get students to become life-long recyclers,” said Christina Filip of Vision Media, a township spokesperson.
And the winners are…
The first prize winners who won an Amazon Kindle HD Fire were: for January, Amirah Karim from grade 3 in Horace Mann; for April, Cristina Morocho from grade 6 in Horace Mann; for July, Mouhammadou Dabo from grade 8 in Lincoln School, and for October, Kristy Soria from grade 12 in North Bergen High School.
The second prize winners who received a $100 TD bank gift card were: for February, Yariem Vasquez-Urena from grade 2 in Robert Fulton; for May, Catherine Castallan from grade 6 in John F. Kennedy; for August, Janelly Lebron from grade 8 in Franklin and for November, Cynthia Arevalo from grade 12 in North Bergen High School.
The third prize winners that received a $50 TD bank gift card were: for March, Amanda Natal from grade 3 in Robert Fulton; for June, Bayan Rasheed from grade 6 in Horace Mann; for September, Vanessa Giraldo from grade 7 in Horace Mann, and for December, Celeste Izquierdo from grade 11 in North Bergen High School.
Honorable mentions
The honorable mentions were: Amanda Sardinas from grade 1 in Lincoln; Nicole Choy from grade 2 in Robert Fulton; Christian Villa from grade 1 in Horace Mann; Gabriella Ugarte from grade 2 in Robert Fulton; Alicia Pavon from grade 2 in Lincoln; Mariyah Santos from grade 1 in Horace Mann; Ashley Rodriguez-Medina from grade 2 in Robert Fulton; Camila Espinosa from grade 3 in Horace Mann; Isabella Barco from grade 2 in Horace Mann; Maxwell Vasquez from grade 2 in Robert Fulton; and Gabriela Ventura from grade 3 in Robert Fulton.
Also, Diana Mondragon from grade 4 in Robert Fulton; Samantha Quimbayo from grade 4 in Horace Mann; Karen Gomez from grade 5 in Robert Fulton; Lahyali Kayyali from grade 4 in Robert Fulton; Joammi Tavaras from grade 4 in John F. Kennedy; Anny Maury from grade 5 in Robert Fulton; Melanie Costa from grade 4 in Horace Mann; Desilyn Angeles from grade 5 in Robert Fulton; Sara Siddiqui from grade 5 in Horace Mann; Nicole Hernandez from grade 4 in Horace Mann; Sherley Huaman from grade 5 in Robert Fulton; and Mihir Shah from grade 5 in Horace Mann.
Also receiving honorable mentions were Leslie Quila from grade 5 in Lincoln School; Ariacha Diaz from grade 6 in Horace Mann; Abigail Mercado from grade 5 in Franklin; Pablo Azogue from grade 6 in Lincoln; Waleska Camilo from grade 9 in North Bergen High; Ariana Pagan from grade 6 in Horace Mann; Jacqueline Molina from grade 7 in Lincoln School; Mercedes Suarez from grade 9 in North Bergen High; Valeria Mesa from grade 6 in Horace Mann; Lisseth Yanez from grade 7 in Horace Mann; Jailine Tiburcio from grade 10 in North Bergen High, and Kenneth Cepeda from grade 12 in North Bergen High.
Grand appreciation
Dabo’s father, Elmoubarack, was so touched by his son’s success that he wrote a letter to Carline. The Dabo family, who originate from Africa, have witnessed what a difference a community-based town like North Bergen makes.
“I am always amazed how teachers in this country and in North Bergen in particular get involved in the children’s education,” said Elmoubarack in the letter. “The way local authorities get involved in all events and how they are close to the population is remarkable. Last Wednesday was exceptional. Who could imagine that little African boy would win a Grand Prize in a citywide contest and have his work posted on a municipal truck? Our family back in Africa is extremely excited and this is a first for all of us.”
Vanessa Cruz can be reached at vcruz@hudsonreporter.com