Students turn junk into art as part of town initiative

Joe Nikic

One person’s trash is a another person’s treasure — the saying goes.

North Hempstead Town officials joined local students at the Gold Coast Arts Center for the awards presentation of the 7th annual Recycled Artwork Contest.

For the contest, students ranging from Kindergarten to 12th grade used recyclable materials including metal, paper, rubber, plastic, and cloth to create artwork. 

“This contest is one of the many wonderful environmental initiatives with which the town is involved all year long, including so many that involve our local schools,” North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said.  “And I am proud to say that for the first time this year, we have all 11 school districts in the town participating in the program, as we were proud to welcome Mineola and Roslyn earlier this fall.”

More than 1,000 students participated in this year’s contest, which was designed to spread the town’s “Recycle, Reuse, Rethink” message. 

Students received awards in categories including “Environmental Message,” “Best Use of Recycled Materials,” “Creativity” and “Best Overall.”

Elementary School Division

Ariella Ayenesazan and Jenny Klein, fourth graders at Harbor Hills Elementary School, won the “Environmental Message” category.

Juliana Hakakian, a fourth grader at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Great Neck, won the “Best Use of Recycled Materials” category.

Group 5-1 and Group 5-2 from Notre Dame Elementary School won the “Creativity” and “Best Overall” categories, respectively.

Middle School Division

The “Environmental Message” category winners were seventh graders Brian Richards and Melissa Bell from Westbury Middle School.

Aidan Thomas, Aedan Hadasi, Spencer Kaufman, Ethan Severance, Ethan Gritz and Jack Marshall, sixth graders from Weber Middle School in the Port Washington school district, won the “Best Use of Recycled Materials” ctaegory.

Sarah Hakakian, a sixth grader from Great Neck North Middle School, won the “Creativity” category.

The “Best Overall” category was won by Jillian Parrino, a seventh grader from Mineola Middle School.

High School Division 

Talia Levy and Jin-Ha Seo, 10th graders from Great Neck South High School, won the “Environmental Message” category. 

The “Best Use of Recycled Materials” category was won by Sruthi Sayi, a ninth grader from New Hyde Park Memorial High School. 

Jay Zhiming Chen and Steven Chen, 11th graders at Great Neck North High School, won the “Creativity” category. 

The “Best Overall” category was won by Lior Cole, a ninth grader from Great Neck South High School.

Group Division

Kindergartners from Parkville School in Great Neck won the “Environmental Message” category.

The “Best Use of Recycled Materials” category was won by a group consisting of ninth through 12th grade students from Westbury High School.

Sixth and seventh graders from Great Neck North Middle School won the “Creativity” category.

The “Best Overall” category was won by a group of first through fifth graders from Munsey Park Elementary School.

All entries are currently displayed at the Gold Coast Arts Center until Jan. 1.

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