Clean Air Partners Honors Students and Organizations at Annual Celebration

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Regional air quality organization, Clean Air Partners proudly honors students, individuals, and organizations from across the region during last night's Clean Air Partners Annual Celebration. Held at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD, Clean Air Partners commended award-winners for their outstanding commitment to improving air quality in the greater metropolitan Baltimore-Washington region. The full list of award winners can be found at www.cleanairpartners.net.

Distinguished keynote speaker, the Honorable Mary L. Washington gave a thoughtful speech thanking the award winners and Clean Air Partners for their dedication and exceptional efforts to reduce the region's contribution to air pollution. Delegate Washington (representing the 43^rd Legislative District) has spent nearly a decade furthering environmental efforts and sustainability goals across the city of Baltimore.

Clean Air Partners Board Chair, Lon Anderson, City of Greenbelt Council member, Honorable Leta Mach, Washington Gas Manager of Corporate Contributions, Tracye Funn, and guest emcee, FOX 45 Morning News meteorologist announced the winners to a room filled with excited students and their families, organization sponsors and partners, regional air quality and public health officials, and select members of the media. After the celebration, attendees toured the award-winning National Aquarium well into the evening. The Clean Air Partners first place awards went to the following:

Infographics Contest Winner:
Richard Wright Public Charter School
Dion Coleman, Tonia Washington, Imani Sutton, and Omar Range
"Started Clear, Now We're Here"

Slogan Contest Winners:
Category 1 (grades 4-6):
Rina Levy, Earle B. Wood Middle School, Montgomery County, MD
"We Can't Stop Breathing It, so Let's Start Cleaning it!"

Category 2 (grades 7-8):
Sarah Anstice, South County Middle School, Fairfax County, VA
"Ride a Bike, Take a Bus, Cleaner Air is Up to Us"

Poster Contest Winners:
Category 1 (grades 4-6):
Maya Valmon, Eastern Middle School, Montgomery County, MD

Category 2 (grades 7-8):
Paravi Das, Eagle Ridge Middle School, Loudoun County, VA

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

This year's Clean Air Partners Champion was awarded to Thurman Jones, President and Founder of the Patriots Technology Training Center. A pioneer in the industry, the "Patriots" have empowered thousands of students through a combination of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and energy education well before it was adopted into Baltimore-area school systems.

The Clean Air Partners Most Valuable Partner to the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital. With more than 1,800 scouts graded K-8, the nation's capital's Girl Scouts spend time each day learning about energy efficiency, renewable and non-renewable sources, alternative energy, and environmental conservation. Since the program's inception (2007), more than 12,500 girls have participated in and benefited from this educational leadership opportunity.

"We, as an organization, are so grateful for the spirit, creativity, and dedication our award-winners have put forth toward improving air quality in our region," says Clean Air Partners Managing Director, Jennifer Desimone. "Air pollution can be decreased through small changes in day-to-day decisions. As we continue into the summer, it's important to think about how you can reduce your contribution to air pollution and protect your health."

About Clean Air Partners
Clean Air Partners is a public-private partnership that educates the greater metropolitan Baltimore-Washington region about the health risks associated with poor air quality and the impacts everyday actions have on the environment. For more than 17 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 more than 10,000 students across the region and uses hands-on activities to teach students about the affect poor air quality has on their health and the environment.

SOURCE Clean Air Partners