City contest recognizes environmentally friendly youth as ‘Eco-Heroes’

Bloomington’s Environmental Commission will highlight the city’s youth who help the environment, including those who have organized an ecology club, made their own clothes from secondhand clothing and grown watermelons.

The commission has sponsored the first Eco-Hero Award Contest. The goal of the contest is to encourage youth to build positive lifelong behaviors and to remind adults of the importance of thinking long-term for the environment. K-12 students submitted essays and arts about the theme “What I Do for the Environment.”

“The Environment Commission is thrilled to have more than 100 submissions for the first annual Eco-Hero Award Contest,” event coordinator Phaedra Pezzullo said in a press release. “It’s clear that youth in Bloomington care about the environment and are doing many inspiring things every day to make our city and planet a better place to live.”

The commission’s chair, Carrie Albright, said in a press release that the contest was inspiring.

“We are inspired by the enthusiasm of Bloomington students and are excited to reward the positive energy with donations provided by local businesses,” she said. “Part of this competition is to show students that they are supported by their community members.”

The event’s sponsors include the commission, the City of Bloomington’s Office of the Mayor and Planning Department and local businesses.

The award ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. today in the City Hall Atrium. Winners will receive a certificate of recognition from Mayor Mark Kruzan and prizes from locally owned businesses that support the environment. The ceremony is open to the public, and the winning art and essays will be on display in the atrium during April.

­ — Claire Aronson