Aidan Harper, an 8th-grade student at Hughes Middle School, created this art piece to display the number of single-use plastic drink bottles consumed on campus each week.
The 8th-grader spearheaded the exhibit after discovering that the campus consumes almost: 190 single-use drink bottles a day; 950 bottles a week; 3,800 bottles a month; and 38,000 bottles a school year. This consumption rate follows national trends, according to Cathy Procopio, who serves as the adviser of the school’s environmental club, Hughes Green Team.
As part of the exhibit experience or in their science classes, students can pledge to reduce their use of single-use drink bottles, Procopio said.
Harper, a member of the school’s Green Team and a Youth Corps leader with the local nonprofit Grades of Green, is also working to facilitate students bringing reusable water bottles to school by raising money to install two “hydration stations” on campus. The stations are special water fountains fitted with a spigot for filling reusable water bottles. He and his Green Team-mates are also selling reusable stainless steel water bottles, as well as hosting a campus fund drive, asking families to donate $1— the average cost of a single-use drink bottle— towards purchasing the new hydration stations. He has received support for the project from his club, the PTA, friends and neighbors, and the school, Procopio said.
He has just under $3,000 to raise. Community members who would like to contribute to the cause can send donations to the school: attention Angela De Jesus, banker, Hughes Middle School, 3846 California Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Checks should be written to “the Long Beach Education Foundation,” with “Hughes Goes Green— Hydration Station” in the memo field.
For more information about the exhibit or the hydration-station project, contact Procopio at (562) 673-2401.
Source: Hughes Middle School
