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MRN Presents $250 Prize to Student at 20th MDE Recycled Sculpture Contest

Published on 11/29/2021



Maryland Recycling Network was proud to once again sponsor the Maryland Department of the Environment’s 20th annual “Rethink Recycling” Sculpture Contest held on Friday, November 19 at Montgomery Park in Baltimore City. During the contest, MRN presented $250 to Kierstan Lang, Century High School, Carroll County for her sculpture “The Guardian.”

In selecting the winner, The MRN judges looked for a quality piece that best represented efforts in waste diversion and sustainability. Lang’s sculpture was selected for its mixed use of both non-organic and organic materials including soda cans, paper mache, peacock feathers, toothpicks, foam, tree branches, push pins and plywood.

MRN executive director Peter Houstle along with board members Charlie Reighart and Tony Drury served as judges.

MDE has hosted the annual “Rethink Recycling” Sculpture contest since 2001 challenging Maryland high school students to create works of art using recyclable materials. Forty entries from ten high schools were submitted to this year’s contest.

Pictured: Kierstan Lang and Peter Houstle



Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles presented the MDE grand prize of a HP laptop to Kimberly Perez Toro, Suitland High School in Prince George’s County for her sculpture “Moe Jr.” created using cardboard, paper, wire, and aluminum tabs. Along with the grand prize, Secretary Grumbles presented prizes for creativity, workmanship, use of materials and people’s choice. First place winners in each category received Sony Wireless Earbuds and second place winners received $100 Amazon gift cards.

First place
  • Creativity: Griffin Farquhar, Century High School, Carroll County, for “Snake of Depression,” made of cardboard, newspaper, and yarn
  • Workmanship: Abbey Jenkins, Liberty High School, Carroll County, for “Scarlet Dragon,” which was made from newspaper, cereal boxes, and popsicle sticks
  • Use of Materials: Gage Osborne, Northwest High School, Montgomery County, for “The Hurdler,” which was made from a broken hurdle, scrap metal, Gatorade bottles, newspaper, newspaper bags, a paint brush, wire, and cardboard
  • People’s Choice: Stevie Francis, Walkersville High School, Frederick County, for “Athena,” which was made from chicken wire, newspaper, and cardboard

Second place:

  • Creativity: Nigel Hafiz, Glenelg Country School, Howard County, for “American Imperialism,” which was made from hangers and a pool noodle
  • Workmanship: Lacey Dustin, South Carroll High School, Carroll County, for “Maurice,” which was made from bottles, cans, forks, magazines, jewelry, batteries, and decorations
  • Use of Materials: Kierstan Lang, Century High School, Carroll County, for “Guardian,” which was made from soda cans, paper mache, peacock feathers, toothpicks, foam, tree braces, push pins and plywood
  • People’s Choice: Oumou Gningue, Suitland High School, Prince George’s County, for “Antique Jackalope,” which was made brown paper and wooden sticks

Congratulations to the winners and all the students for the hard work they put into their projects.

Read MDE Press Release

Learn more about MDE's Recycled Sculpture Contest

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