Lea Hill Elementary School students Hector Castaneda and Madelynn Stulce were top 10 winners of the Washington State Department of Transportation and I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition’s Bridging Futures IV contest.

The contest invites elementary school students statewide to submit art renderings and essays depicting what a wildlife crossing might look like and how they function. The idea behind this annual contest is to tap into the creativity of kids statewide to help educate the wider driving public about the issues surrounding transportation and wildlife with a focus on a unique solution close to home.

The Bridging Futures, in its fourth year, has received wide support from students, educators and the transportation and environmental communities.

To view Hector and Madelynn’s artwork, go to http://www.i90wildlifebridges.org/bridgingfutures.htm.

Going green

Auburn Mountainview High School horticulture instructor Regina Butler is coordinating a new pilot recycling program at the school. Clint Westmoreland from Cedar Grove Composting and Kathleen Edman from the City of Auburn are partnering with the school to launch the program.

Student volunteers will create four recycling stations in the commons to recycle the paper trays from the lunchroom and to recycle a portion of organic waste. Organic waste includes pre-consumer food waste (fruit and vegetable trimmings, old bread, expired grains, and coffee grounds).

The student body ran a trial test during “Green Week” and found it to be successful enough to launch a pilot program. The kitchen staff will be trained by Cedar Grove Composting, and the city will fund the pick-up fees.

The Auburn Mountainview horticulture program and campus landscape maintenance also will be able to recycle yard waste.

Skillful performances

Kevin Powers, a junior from Auburn Riverside High School, took first place in the cabinetry division at the Washington State SkillsUSA Competition on April 18-19 in Vancouver, Wash. He will represent the state at the National SkillsUSA Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., on June 22-28.

Robert Vernon, a junior from Auburn High, placed fifth in state for cabinetry. Jeremy Anderson, a junior from Auburn Riverside, was sixth in state for cabinetry.

Frank Medina, the electronics and computer repair instructor at Auburn Riverside High School, was named the SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year for the Puget Sound Region.

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