On Friday, April 30, 2021, Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller and Executive Director of Community Affairs Dr. Henry Ficklin, along with Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Executive Director Carolyn Childs and Education Chair Janice Habersham, announced the winners of the Clean Streets Matter Essay and Art Contest.

37 students throughout the county, in Kindergarten through 12^th grade, entered the contest and showed the judges  why clean streets matter through their art in picture and words. Members of our community judged the work before the results were announced Friday. Those judges included Art Instructor Rudy Mendes, Founder of Rhythm and Jazz Foundation Bob Ficklin, County Communications Specialist Rachel Gambill, Retired English Educator Helen Weathers, Commissioner Valerie Wynn, and Retired English Educator Shirley Carey.

“I’m so proud of these students on their work and to learn why they believe and fully understand why clean streets matter to the future of our neighborhoods, just like we do,” says Mayor Miller. “Clean streets matter because Macon-Bibb County matters, and it’s great to see so many people agree with that.”

“We’re excited to build off of the momentum of the Clean Streets Matter initiative and extend education about litter prevention into the Bibb County School District,” says Childs. “We were thrilled with all of the art and essay submissions and enjoyed learning what clean streets meant to the students in our community.”

WINNERS OF ART CONTEST

Essay Contest 9-12

1^st Place – Jayden Wright – Rutland High School

2^nd Place – Elizabeth Aka – Howard High School

3^rd Place – Charles Michael Spradlin – Westside High School

Essay Contest 6-8

1^st Place – Adrienne Diggins – Miller Middle School

2^nd Place – Nyla Belgrave – Miller Middle School

3^rd Place – Tacoyia Braswell – Miller Middle School

Art Contest – K – 2

1^st  Place – Mariya Campbell – Vineville Academy

2^nd Place – Finley Faircloth – Springdale Elementary

3^rd Place – Taanya Vemulapalli – Stratford Academy

Art Contest – 3 – 5

1^st Place – Merrill Long – Springdale Elementary

2^nd Place – Rivers Connally – Stratford Academy

3^rd Place – Colin Hall – Heard Elementary