SOMERSET, Ky. — Eleven local students were recently awarded prizes for participating in a challenge to keep Somerset and Pulaski County clean.
Coinciding with the week of Earth Day, the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA), Pulaski County Recycling Center, the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and Lake Cumberland Tourism sponsored the Triple Bag Challenge, a contest that incentivizes local students to pick up trash along roadways.
Students who picked up three bags of trash received a chance to win one of several prizes. One student — Emelia Singleton, a Northern Middle School seventh-grader — was chosen at random to receive the grand prize of $500 in cash. Other participants received season passes to SomerSplash Waterpark or $20 in cash.
Participants were asked to post before-and-after photos of their cleanup efforts to Facebook and/or Instagram using #spctriplesweep. The contest was open to all elementary through high school students living in Somerset and Pulaski County.
Triple Bag Challenge winners include:
- Jaycee Cothron, sixth grade, Meece Middle School
- Kyrsten Baker, fifth grade; Benny Baker, first grade; and Ezekiel Baker, first grade; all students at Science Hill Independent
- Paisley Carrigan, first grade, Eubank Elementary School
- James Pitman III, first grade, Pulaski Elementary School
- Caroline Dishon, first grade, Eubank Elementary School
- Grayson Fitzgerald, ninth grade, Somerset High School
- Emelia Singleton, seventh grade, Northern Middle School
- Charleston Girdler, seventh grade; and Channing Girdler, first grade; both students at Somerset Christian School
SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said he loved seeing so many young people take pride in their community by giving their time in service to keep it beautiful.
The Triple Bag Challenge is hosted every spring and fall. Fall contest dates will be announced later this summer, Girdler said.
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