(Los Angeles) — The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and JASON Learning today are proud to present the winners of the nationwide 2019 Youth Video & Poster Contest designed to promote the value of recycling among youth. Fourth grade students Nimisha Kasliwal and Asher Hardis from Hilltop Elementary School in Beachwood, Ohio won this year’s grand prize with their video submission.
“Combining art and video with STEM education to teach recycling allows kids the opportunity to learn about the science and technology of recycling through their own creativity,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “As this year’s winners show, with the right teaching and resources, children can have creative, innovative ideas that demonstrate how recycling works to benefit society. It is this innovation that carry the recycling industry forward for generations to come.”
The theme of this year’s contest was Recycle to Rebuild. Theme centered on how many important parts of America’s infrastructure – in particular, roads and highways – were built close to 50 years ago and are beginning to show signs of wear-and-tear. As lawmakers are debating spending packages to rebuild the infrastructure, students were asked to imagine how recycled material could be used in these efforts. Students needed to apply the knowledge, ideas and skills gained from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), to research, imagine, prototype and test ways that we could use recycled materials to help rebuild our infrastructure. Then create an original video or poster that tells the story of their “recycle to rebuild” solution, and how they thought of it and tested it.
Kasliwal and Hardis’ video submission describes in detail how recycled plastic can be used to build new roads. It describes the process in which plastic, how it can be incorporated in the roads, and the environmental benefits that would result. Throughout the video, it is clear the students did a significant amount of research on both how recycling works and the many benefits it provides.
“The ultimate educational experience is when students solve real problems. ISR's contest to rebuild the infrastructure with recycled materials is real and applied. This is STEM learning at its best,” said Eleanor Smalley, president and CEO of JASON Learning.
Judges evaluated entries on the interpretation and clarity of the theme to the viewer, the persuasiveness of the message, creativity and originality, the quality of the entry, and the overall impression of the entry.
Kasliwal and Hardis were recognized at ISRI’s Annual Convention & Exposition being held April 8-11 in Los Angeles. All winners and finalists will be featured on the ISRI website. All finalists will receive a certificate, a full year of JASON online access for the entrant(s) and teacher/facilitator, and a contest t-shirt. Entries receiving honorable mentions will receive certificates and t-shirts.
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*** Photo attached. Left to Right: Sean Smith, COO Jason Learning; Peter Van Houton, General Manager Bob's Metals and ISRI Youth Subcommittee Chair; Nimisha Kasliwal; Asher Hardis; and Brian Shine, ISRI Chair.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the "Voice of the Recycling Industry™." ISRI represents 1,300 companies in 20 chapters in the U.S. and more than 40 countries that process, broker, and consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics, and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides education, advocacy, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. Generating nearly $117 billion annually in U.S. economic activity, the scrap recycling industry provides nearly half a million Americans with good jobs.