IMPORTANT NOTICE:
THE BE SMART CONSERVATION CHALLENGE IS NO LONGER A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE FINAL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN SPRING 2007.
WATCH THIS SITE FOR NEWS ABOUT THE CONSERVATION CHALLENGE.
WE HOPE THE INFORMATION HERE HELP STUDENTS AND OTHERS
TAKE ACTIONS TO REDUCE WASTE AND BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT.

High School Category

Be Smart Honorable Mention Awards

Printer Friendly Version

JJ Rao Scholarship Award

This year the Coalition, along with JJ's family and friends, are proud to announce a new scholarship in memory of JJ Rao, a former competition supporter, mentor and judge who passed away last year.

In addition to fulfilling rigorous Be Smart Scholarship criteria, this new award recognizes a student whose project reflects a strong personal commitment to protecting the environment and a positive outlook. The additional criteria are: adherence to the waste hierarchy, sustainability, chemical engineering aspect, impact/depth of project, data and professional presentation, positive outlook and personal commitment to the environment, humor, style and personality

The 2002 JJ Rao Scholarship Award winner is Theresa Wolf, Wisconsin Lutheran College for her project SODA LIME: FIRE DEPARTMENT WASTE OR VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR SOIL?

COLLEGE CATEGORY

THERESA WOLF
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE, MILWAUKEE, WI
SODA LIME: FIRE DEPARTMENT WASTE OR A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR SOIL?
$1,250 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP AND $1,000 J.J. RAO AWARD
This project set out to find a use for soda lime waste from breathing apparatus used by the Milwaukee Fire Department. The soda lime was tested as a treatment for acidic soils in Northern Wisconsin. The soda lime worked as well as expensive professional treatments, saving $600 for the test farm. The idea was marketed and three additional landowners agreed to use the Fire Department's used soda lime. Reuse of soda lime could keep more than a ton of waste out of landfills in Milwaukee alone.

| Top |

 

MARY JANE SCHOENSEE
LAKESHORE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, CLEVELAND, WI
SCRAPS CREATE WOOD'N THINGS - $500 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP
This project set out to find individuals, companies and institutions that could use excess pallet wood and crates in the Milwaukee manufacturing sector. Arrangements were made for a craft company to use waste crates, saving $120 per year. Challenges with pallet wood reuse were identified. The manufacturing company with waste pallets was informed of the cost savings and environmental benefits of hiring a recycling company to take pallets instead of sending them to a landfill.

| Top |

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

BRIGID MORONEY
DIVINE SAVIOR HOLY ANGELS HIGH SCHOOL, MILWAUKEE, WI
FROM RAGS TO RICHES: OPERATION TREE FREE PAPER
$1,250 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP
The goal of this project was to develop tree free paper to conserve resources, prevent pollution and reuse waste material. The idea of making paper from noxious weeds was researched and a process was developed through experimentation. A web site about the new paper was made and the paper was promoted to the school and a papermaking company. All the school's visitor passes are now made of the tree free paper. A survey showed that people like the paper. Weeds and fireplace ash were used, keeping those materials out of the trash.

| Top |

KEVIN TRAMPE AND ERIC TARMAN-RAMCHECK
EAST TROY HIGH SCHOOL, EAST TROY, WI
WASTE WOOD REDUCTION AND RECYCLING - $1,250 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP
The goal of this project was to reduce the amount of waste wood from construction sites and businesses that is sent to landfills. Scrap wood and reusable lumber, doors and cabinets were collected from construction sites and businesses. Scrap wood was prepared and sold to campers as "Burn-a-Boxes" for firewood. Use of the other reusable wood was promoted. Over 7 tons of wood from 10 businesses and construction sites was reused, saving $1600 in hauling and landfill costs and raising $175 through sales of the products.

CYNTHYA ARROYO, ABIGAIL CAÑAS, EMMANUEL CONCEPCION, EVA CORTEZ, JONATHAN DELEON, NORMA FERRIERA, ANA HUERTA, NALLELI LUEVANO, ELIA SERNA, ERICKA SERNA AND WINSTON XIONG
SOUTH DIVISION HIGH SCHOOL, MILWAUKEE, WI
CLEAN SWEEP
$1,100 BE SMART/BUY CLEAN SCHOLARSHIP
The Environmental Club aimed to reduce the amount of unneeded hazardous chemicals in the high school. The students took an inventory of chemicals stored by the Science Department and then surveyed teachers to determine which chemicals are used in classes. The Club found that only 34% of the department's chemicals were needed; the rest were safely removed. The Club helped the school adopt policies for safer storage of hazardous chemicals and purchasing guidelines to prevent unneeded hazardous materials from being ordered in the future. The new policies were shared with others and the Club will soon help the Art Department take similar measures.

| Top |

MIKE FINN AND MATT BERGAN
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, Waukesha, WI
PAPER SAVERS TO THE RESCUE -$1,000 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP
This project set out to find a way to conserve bond paper used in a plotter at a local architectural firm. The students replaced normal paper size of 24"x32" with 11"x 17" sheets. Architectural technicians used a scale to measure reduced-size plans. The amount of paper saved was calculated. The project saved over 8700 square feet of paper in one week, saving money and reducing trash for the firm.

| Top |

BRIDGET FINN
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
REDUCE & REUSE - $1,000 Be Smart Scholarship
This project's goal was to reduce waste created at a hair salon by refilling customers' bottles with hair care products rather than using a new one each time. The help of the salon staff was enlisted and customers were encouraged to bring back bottles for refill. A discount provided a financial incentive. This saved the salon $200 a month , as fewer new bottles were purchased. Customers saved money and less waste was generated in their households. The salon will continue the effort.

| Top |

STEFANIE BRESKA AND KATE ELLES
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
RECYCLING ADVENTURES IN NURSING -$750 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP
The goal was to reduce waste and save money by decreasing the number of medicine cups thrown away at a nursing home. Cups were labled with patients' names and the staff was instructed to reuse medicine cups instead of using a new disposable cup each time a patient receives medication. This decreased the number of cups used by over 5,500 and saved $300 in just 15 days.

| Top |

DAVE GARDNER AND ANDY VANSELOW
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
HOTEL RECYCLING - $500 BE SMART SCHOLARSHIP
This project sought a way to reduce waste generated by hotels. A survey of practices was given to hotel managers. A hotel agreed to save small bottles of personal care products left behind by guests. The products were given to an organization that serves the homeless. The amount of waste produced at the hotel was reduced and information was provided to other hotels.

| Top |

BE SMART HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS, 2001

LILA ALI
ST. JOAN ANTIDA HIGH SCHOOL, MILWAUKEE, WI
BE SMART, RECYCLE AND REUSE
The goal was to reduce waste and encourage recycling at a large office building. Recycling bins for cans and bottles were place in the building and signs and e-mail encouraged paper reduction and recycling. Recycling increased and employees reduced their use of paper from 10 boxes a week to only 8. Recycling and waste reduction are now part of a job description at the company.

| Top |

AMANDA TRITZ, JENNY WILSON AND STACIE MUNDRO
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
A BIODEGRADABLE PACKING SOLUTION
This project set out to reduce paper waste at a business by shredding used paper to make packing peanuts. Collection and daily shredding of used paper was arranged. Less paper is wasted, and the new shipping material is reusable, recyclable and biodegradable. Resources and money for buying packing material are saved.

| Top |

ANDREA SCHATZMAN AND CATHERINE SCHULTZ
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
ANIMAL EXCURSIONS
This project set out to reuse tennis ball waste at a tennis club by giving used balls to the humane society. Arrangements were made with the tennis club and signs encouraged the collection of used tennis balls. Over 80 tennis balls that would have been thrown away were instead given to dogs at the humane society.

| Top |

KATY LYNCH AND KAREN PASCHKE
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
REUSING PRODUCTS TO ELIMINATE WASTE
This project set out to reduce waste by using plastic milk jugs and newspapers to make a type of plywood. The students researched recycling and experimented with a process to make a plywood material out of waste plastic and paper. The new composite material could expand recycling markets and have uses in households and businesses.

| Top |

MATT PAFFHAUSEN AND KYLE MAAS
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
WASTE TO BIRD HOUSES
This project set out to make Lions Park Pond a better place for wildlife and people. Litter in the park was gathered and the cans and bottles found were made into birdhouses and hung in the park. The park is cleaner, awareness of litter increased and birds now have shelters for their nests.

| Top |

ERIC RZENTKOWSKI AND GABE LIESEMEYER
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
REUSE DON'T ABUSE
This project's goal was to reduce the number of plastic bottles thrown away daily in the high school cafeteria. Students were surveyed about their use of water bottles. Efforts were made to inform students of the environmental benefits and cost savings of refilling and reusing bottles. However, there was little change in the number of water bottles in the trash after the awareness campaign.

| Top |

BART GEIB
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
SEEKING SHORTER SHOWERS TO SAVE WATER
This project's purpose was to reduce the amount of water used in personal showers. The amount of water typically used was measured and the time spent running the water in the shower was reduced. This saved 10 gallons of water per shower.

| Top |

JANELLE FRECKMANN AND BILL ZIMMERMAN
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
RETIRED COMPUTERS
The objective of the project was to reuse retired computers from a local business. Arrangements were made for the computers to be donated to the school. Hazardous computer waste from the business was reduced and students benefitted from the donation of computers.

| Top |

SEAN BENSON, PAUL GENSLER, JORDAN JUNG AND GRANT KLUMB
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
PAPER WASTE REDUCTION
The goal of this project was to reduce paper waste at the school's computer lab. Signs were made to encourage students to use both sides of the paper and to use scrap paper, and members of the project team personally attended the computer lab to remind students until habits were formed. In the project's first month, 1,000 sheets of paper were saved.

| Top |

JAKE SOBCZAK AND MICHELLE SEEBACH
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
CONVENIENCE PACKAGING
This project set out to determine which chip package - tubes or bags - produces less waste and is less expensive. Packaging was researched and students were surveyed about their preferences. The students learned about packaging and discovered that bags cost less and use less material and energy to produce than tubes.

| Top |

ROB BAKIC JR., DAVE MIKULICE AND JAMIE FIGUEROA
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
SAVING THE STORM SEWERS
The goal of this project was to save small automotive parts and reduce water pollution by preventing parts from falling into the floor drain at mechanic's shop. A screen was fitted into the drain and the results were observed. The amount of parts and tools lost in the drain was reduced, saving the shop over $400. The objects were prevented from entering waterways.

| Top |

COURTNEY DENTICE
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
PAPER REDUCTION
This project aimed to reduce waste in an elementary school by promoting four ways teachers can conserve paper: using the chalkboard, using the overhead projector, using both sides of paper and using scratch paper. All four methods of reducing paper were implemented and over 240 sheets of paper were saved each day.

| Top |

MIKE WAND, ZACH HELGREN, SCOTT HAFER AND CLAIRE KLIBOWITZ
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
SAWDUST RECYCLING
This found a use for wood waste created at a local business. The students bagged sawdust to sell for animal bedding and bundled wood to sell as firewood. They found a retailer willing to sell the wood products. The waste wood products were sold at a profit, reusing the wood and reducing waste. The business will consider future waste reduction efforts. Profits were donated to an environmental organization.

| Top |

MARCIE BUCARO AND TRISHA HEISE
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WI
CARDBOARD COLLECTORS
This project set out to find a way to reuse cardboard boxes. Arrangements were made with 4 stores for cardboard to be saved. Posters asked customers to bring back boxes. Over 2,000 boxes were collected from 4 stores and given to Sam's Clubs stores. Sam's Club resued boxes to pack customers' purchases.