Students awarded for cleaning cigarette trash

WILMINGTON- On Friday, May 31, Twin Valley’s students who are part of Our Voices Exposed, a state wide high school tobacco prevention organization, participated in World No Tobacco Day by cleaning up cigarette butts in the community.  
They picked up over 3,000 cigarette butts in and along Route 9 and in business parking lots on the stretch from Shaw’s to the light and on South Main.  In comparison, only 400 cigarette butts were found on the stretch from the light to Zoar and on North Main. They also cleaned up 150 cigarette butts in a single Dover plaza parking lot.  In contrast, none were found near the “Smoke Free Zone”  at Pettee Memorial Library and only 15 were found at the Fairview boat launch.  Their efforts will continue this summer and will also include advocating for cigarette butt receptacles in key locations. The group would like to thank Casey Sibilia, Sawyer King, Catherine Thomas, Jen Nilsen, and Shelley Park.
State health and education officials honored student members, their advisors and community partners of the youth-led organizations Our Voices Exposed and Vermont Kids Against Tobacco Friday for their leadership in raising awareness about the impact of tobacco and vaping products on young Vermonters.
 The Department of Health and Agency of Education presented awards for youth advocates of the year, advisors of the year, and the OVX groups with most impactful community collaboration. In addition, winners of the VKAT photovoice project were recognized for their outstanding work. The awardees, who come from around the state, were selected by an advisory committee from a pool of nominations.
Twin Valley was among those recognized, earning first prize for the VKAT photo voice competition.
Anyone interested in this project should contact the Deerfield Valley Community Partnership to participate. Contact Shelley at aspark802@gmail.com for more information.