Students from Ann Street and Wilson Avenue Schools Named Winners of 15th Annual Ironbound Anti-Litter Poster Contest

By Vince Baglivo (Patch Contributor) | April 25, 2017 4:02 pm ET

Artwork will be featured on postcards providing information about trash pick-up, recycling and waste disposal regulations.


Local street signs as pathways to a cleaner community inspired Jacelyn Quezada’s creative concept for the Ironbound Business Improvement District’s (IBID) 15th Annual Anti-Litter Poster Contest. The contest was sponsored by Newark-based Panasonic.

Quezada, joined by Wilson Avenue School classmates Raquel Goncalves, Adan Franco and Nicole Vallejos, submitted the winning entry in the 5th to 8th grade student category. The team of students Erick Botelho De Souza, Ayden Tapia and Brandon Santos from Ann Street School were the winners in the 1st to 4th grade category.

Dozens of posters were entered by students from all of the Ironbound’s elementary and middle schools participating in the contest which draws attention to the IBID’s “Let’s Work Together to Keep the Ironbound Clean” quality of life initiative. Leysly Roldan, IBID Office Manager, coordinated the contest with the schools.

The Wilson Avenue School students were supported in their efforts by art teacher Randi Wolfman and Principal Margarita Hernandez. Art teacher Marilyn Richardson and Principal Linda J. Richardson supported the students from Ann Street School.

IBID Treasurer Renato Baptista was joined by David Thompson, Panasonic’s Director, Corporate Environmental Department, for the presentation of trophies and medals; both commended the winning students for their efforts, working together in support of a cleaner Ironbound community. All students submitting entries to the contest receive commemorative certificates.

Thompson noted that Panasonic was pleased to work with the IBID and the schools to promote a cleaner city because the goals of the contest align well with the direction of the company. “Panasonic is using technology to contribute to a better environment, including building batteries for electric cars and solar panels for producing electricity,” he added.

Seth A. Grossman, IBID Executive Director, noted that thousands of postcards will be printed featuring the work of the winning students for distribution in Ironbound schools and display in the storefront windows of merchants and restaurants throughout the Ironbound District. The postcards provide information about the Ironbound District’s trash pick-up and recycling schedules as well as rules and regulations regarding waste disposal.

For more information about programs and services provided by the Ironbound Business Improvement District visit goironbound.com or follow news from the district at Facebook.com/goironbound.

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