Students recognized for street sweeper pollution prevention design work in Olympia

Two Washington Middle School students were recognized for their artwork, which promotes clean water and stormwater pollution prevention in Olympia.

Jackson Schaub and Aalena Lucas, whose designs highlight how street sweeping helps protect local waterways from pollution, were acknowledged by the Olympia City Council at a meeting on Sept. 30

Their artwork will appear on one side of the city’s new grant-funded street sweeper and will also be featured on Olympia’s website, social media pages and educational materials. Last year’s winning artwork is displayed on the opposite side of the vehicle.  

The recognition marked the second year of the Storm and Surface Water Utility’s Street Sweeper Art Contest, which invites Olympia middle school students to create artwork that educates the community about the connection between clean streets and clean water.  

“This project helps us highlight street sweeping as an important stormwater pollution prevention tool,” said Stormwater Program Coordinator Sue Barclift.

She said the winning designs will help the public understand how keeping streets clean prevents debris and contaminants from entering storm drains and local waterways.  

Mayor Dontae Payne expressed appreciation to the students for their participation.  

“It is always a pleasure to have our youth participating in city programs and to encourage our community to think about ways to be more environmentally friendly,” said Payne to the students.

“We go about our days, and we don’t think about our role in the environment and how we play a part in that, for better or for worse. What you’ve done helps call our attention back to those things so we can make things better for the next generation.”