A team of sixth-graders from Twin Valley Middle School (TVMS) - Olivia Levan, Mariah Posey and Aislyn Schultz - were first-place winners of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's Litter Hawk Youth Award program for creating an anti-littering video. The TVMS students, along with other winners, were recognized at a ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building on April 3.

The program, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, provides a way for students in kindergarten through grade six to express their concerns about litter by submitting artwork, an essay or a video. The theme was "Join the Greatest American Cleanup! Show Us How You Can Keep Your Community Litter Free for America's 250th Birthday."

The Greatest American Cleanup is Keep America Beautiful's national three-year campaign to motivate communities to clean up ahead of the country's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. More than 500 students participated in this year's program.

In the award-winning video, the TVMS students show images of litter in front of the school and overflowing trash bins. The video then shows students picking up trash.

"Litter hurts both animals and humans," according to the video narrative, which reported that cigarette butts and pieces of plastic are the most littered items in Pennsylvania. "Put your trash in the right trash bin, not on the ground," the video advises.

It also mentions the danger of throwing microplastics into the regular trash bin. "Microplastics can't break down, so put your litter and recyclables into the right trash bin," the video states.

The video encourages others to take part in litter cleanup efforts with the conclusion, "We need you to help keep Pennsylvania beautiful. Imagine what would happen if every person picked up litter. Not only would Pennsylvania be beautiful, but the entire planet would benefit. Let's keep America beautiful in honor of America's 250th birthday."

First- and second-place winners in each grade level received certificates and a Litter Hawk decal. Winning entries will be displayed in the East Wing Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg through Wednesday, April 30.

To view the video and all of the winning entries and for more information about the program, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org/grants-awards/awards/litter-hawk. Winners are also featured at www.facebook.com/keeppabeautiful.