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JBSA News
NEWS | April 18, 2013

Earth Day 2013: Poster contest open to JBSA youth

By Robert Goetz Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Earth Day 2013 will be observed at Joint Base San Antonio with a poster contest open to students at all eight JBSA schools in the Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and Randolph independent school districts.

The contest is a way to draw attention to the Earth Day message, Archie Cooper, JBSA provisional pollution manager, said.

"The purpose is to get young people thinking about the ways they can be better stewards of the environment, whether it's through recycling, conservation of resources or pollution prevention," he said. "Students who take part in the poster contest can take it whichever direction they want."

Submissions, which are due by 5 p.m. April 26, "must represent the unique style and imagery of Earth Day reflecting the excitement and spirit of our bases," Cooper said.

Posters made with traditional media - including oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, illustrations and prints - and computer graphics will be accepted and should be submitted in a vertical format measuring 22 inches wide by 28 inches high, he said.

In addition, entries must be completely original concepts and signed on the back with the artist's name, teacher, grade and school/JBSA location. Students should turn in their entries at their schools.

Cooper said judges' criteria will include "concept, artistic integrity, visual presentation and merchandising adaptation."

Although this year's Earth Day observance is focused on outreach to youth, JBSA remains committed to stewardship of the environment, Cooper said. One example is its recycling program.

"Our JBSA program was responsible for recycling 6,288 tons over the course of fiscal 2012," he said. "While this number sounds very impressive, there are still many opportunities to improve and increase our recycling numbers."

Cooper said recycling makes "perfect business sense."

"If we do not recycle these commodities, we have to pay to have them disposed of and they end up in the landfill, which is a negative environmental impact," he said. "On the other hand, if the commodity is recycled and managed properly, JBSA can be paid in most cases, which will cover the recycling program costs, and remaining funds go to the wing."

Earth Day, April 22, is observed each year to focus on the importance of preserving the environment for present and future generations. The first Earth Day in 1970 was marked by rallies, protests and demonstrations that called for action to curb the deterioration of the environment and extinction of wildlife.

For more information about Earth Day 2013, contact Thomas Gayer-Brindisi at 413-2539 or Thomas.p.gayer-brindisi.civ@mail.mil, or contact Cooper at 852-1930 or archie.cooper.1@us.af.mil.