Scholarship prizes for “Everyday Environmentalists” Video Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2010

Contact: Thomas Metzger, tmetzger@envasns.org

Video Contest Invites College Students to Film “ Everyday Environmentalists” for Scholarship Money

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - College students have a chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarships by filming or creating animation and uploading short video clips to YouTube that demonstrate the everyday, practical ways that garbage men and women help keep communities healthy and clean, protect the environment and conserve resources in their communities. The contest, which opens on September 9, 2010, is sponsored by the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) in Washington, D.C. NSWMA represents the solid waste industry in the U.S., including firms that collect, process, recycle, extract renewable fuel and dispose of municipal solid waste.

Students are asked to upload video or animated clips of five minutes or shorter. In addition to information about eligibility, contest rules and directions for uploading videos, the contest webpage (www.environmentalistseveryday.org/youtube-contest) lists a number of possible themes, one or more of which must be incorporated into the videos. To be considered, video submissions must be uploaded by midnight on October 24.

The top videos/animations will be selected by a panel of judges, including solid waste company officials and environmental leaders, for creativity and adherence to one or more of the listed themes and contest rules. The public will then be invited to vote on the contest website for their favorite video from this select group. Winners will be announced in early December. The creator of the video that receives the most votes from the public will receive a $3,000 cash scholarship. The second and third place winners will receive $2,000 and $1,000 cash scholarships respectively.

“We look forward to the creativity and thoughtfulness that students will demonstrate with their videos. Whether serious or humorous in tone, it will be exciting to observe how they view the role of solid waste management in their communities,” said Bruce J. Parker, president and CEO of the NSWMA.

Parker continued, “Today’s solid waste industry now has a leadership role in responding to the most pressing environmental concerns of the day, such as developing new sources of clean, renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. I’m proud of the industry that my staff and I represent. We call its employees ‘Environmentalists. Every Day.’ because their core responsibility is protecting public health and the environment every day. I am hopeful that participating students will increase public awareness about the progressive and creative contributions that the solid waste industry brings while addressing today’s and future environmental challenges.”

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NSWMA – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.