ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)'s Research and Education Foundation and Scholastic announced the winners of TurfMutt's national “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest. Each of the grand prize winners received a $5,000 grant to improve the yards and green spaces at their respective schools.
The annual contest is part of the TurfMutt environmental stewardship and education program where children learn how to take care of green spaces. TurfMutt and his friends, the Outdoor Powers, inspire the lesson plans, providing a fun and creative way to teach environmental and science lessons. The cartoon-ized TurfMutt character is based on a real-life rescue dog named Lucky.
To enter the contest, students had to submit an essay in 150-200 words showing how they are a “Backyard Superhero.” They were encouraged to show how they will help TurfMutt and the Outdoor Powers combat the cartoon-based “environmental villain” characters (known as Carbon Creep, Dust Demon, Dr. Runoff and Heat Freak). They also had to create an original picture using the character cutouts from the TurfMutt activities.
The winners are:
• K-2 grand prize winner, Jordan Evans, of Trophy Club, Texas. Evans attends Samuel Beck Elementary School.
• Grades 3-5 grand prize winner, Liam Ellis, of Sewickley, Pa. Ellis attends Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh.
• 50 runners-up in grades K-2 will each receive a book from Scholastic.