Clean Air Partners' Annual Awards Celebration Brings Local Officials and Organizations Together to Honor Regional Air Quality Accomplishments

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Regional air quality organization, Clean Air Partners, proudly honored students, individuals, and organizations from across the region at the 7^thAnnual Awards Celebration on Wed., May 13^th at the historically-recognized, Torpedo Factory Art Center. Just in time for ozone season, Clean Air Partners and local officials applauded award-winners for their unparalleled commitment to improving air quality in the greater metropolitan Washington-Baltimore region. The full list of award winners can be found at www.cleanairpartners.net.

To kick-off the ceremony, City of Alexandria Mayor, William D. Euille welcomed more than 120 attendees and award winners. Mayor Euille currently serves as the Chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, one of the founding partners of the Clean Air Partners program. 

Distinguished keynote speaker, U.S. Senator, Tim Kaine (VA) gave a thoughtful speech thanking award winners and Clean Air Partners for their profound dedication to reducing the greater metropolitan Washington-Baltimore's contribution to air pollution. Senator Kaine focuses closely on climate change and its effects in Virginia, especially rising sea levels and flooding.

Clean Air Partners Chair, Lon Anderson, Vice Chair, Brian O'Malley, Virginia House Delegate, Honorable Eileen Filler-Corn, and guest emcee, WUSA-TV meteorologist, Howard Bernstein announced the award winners to a room filled with environmental and public health organizations, transportation and industry partners, students and their families, and select members of the media.

"Air quality and public health are part of our communities' everyday lives," says Clean Air Partners Board Chair, Lon Anderson. "These tremendous students, innovative individuals, and committed organizations are shaping the way we, as a region, protect and improve the air we breathe, and we thank them for their leadership in this critical endeavor."  

The Clean Air Partners first place awards went to the following: 

Infographics Contest Winner
Jade Yates and Ta'One Walker, Richard Wright Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
"Humans in Pollution Land"

Slogan Contest Winners:
Category 1 (grades 4-6):
Faiza Ibrahim, Crossfield Elementary School, Fairfax County, VA
"Take a Bike. Plant a Tree. Make the World a
Better Place for You and Me."                                                                        

Category 2 (grades 7-8):
Charlotte Zolper, South County Middle School, Fairfax County, VA
"Pollution is Ruining the Air. We Can't Afford Not to Care!"

Poster Contest Winners:
Category 1 (grades 4-6):
Olivia Wright, Severna Park Middle School, Severna Park, MD

Category 2 (grades 7-8):
Ifeyinwa Njelita, Kingsview Middle School, Germantown, MD

After the excited students received their awards, Clean Air Partners announced the second annual Champion and Most Valuable Partner awards. 

The Clean Air Partners Champion was awarded to Alyssa Boxhill of Frederick County, MD. A graphic designer at Frederick Memorial Hospital, Boxhill is an active member of the hospital's Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and Green Team. Boxhill encourages bike and pedestrian initiatives, promotes Bike to Work Day, and commutes via bicycle or alternative transportation options every day of the year. Boxhill's leadership initiatives and continuous promotion of alternative transportation and environmentally-friendly behaviors has saved thousands of dollars, reduced congestion, and improved air quality for all of Frederick County, MD.

The Clean Air Partners Most Valuable Partner was awarded to one of the program's founding members, WGL. This year alone, Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc., a subsidiary of WGL, received the 2014 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition as the country's leading green power suppliers. In 2014, WGL's total solar assets have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 metric tons – making progress toward their goal of a 70 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from their fleet and facilities operations by 2020, and an 18 percent reduction from their gas delivery system.

About Clean Air Partners
Clean Air Partners is a public-private partnership that educates the greater metropolitan Washington-Baltimore region about the health risks associated with poor air quality and the impacts everyday actions have on the environment. For more than 18 years, Clean Air Partners has helped individuals and organizations take simple actions to reduce their impact on the environment and exposure to air pollution during unhealthy air quality days. Clean Air Partners distributes AirAlerts – a free service that that provides air quality forecasts and real-time health notifications via email. For more information and to sign up for AirAlerts, visit www.cleanairpartners.net.

About Clean Air Partners "On the Air" Curriculum and Outreach Program
The Clean Air Partners infographic, slogan, and poster contests are launched each year through the "On the Air" education curriculum. On the Air reaches tens of thousands of students across the region using hands-on activities to teach students about the affect poor air quality has on their health and the environment.

SOURCE Clean Air Partners

Related Links

http://www.cleanairpartners.net