By Rich Bockmann
One of Oakland Gardens’ own little environmentalists is getting some big recognition.
PS 203’s Samuel Ahn won first place for the chromatic poster he submitted in the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s New York Recycles poster contest.
The third-grader said it was his mother, Grace, who taught him about recycling and told him about the contest.
“I know where you should put recyclables, what piece you should put and where you should put it,” he said. Sam said he also likes to make toys, such as cars and buildings, out of discarded pieces of cardboard.
The poster, which he worked on at home, illustrates how to separate cardboard and paper into green recycling bins and bottles, cans, cups and aluminum foil into blue ones.
“It shows how to classify and organize which material goes in which and how you can recycle,” said the 9-year-old Little Neck resident.
The contest is an annual event open to children in kindergarten through 12th-grade throughout the state who are judged based on creativity, relevance and the ability to incorporate the theme of recycling.
Sam’s was one of more than 650 posters submitted. It will be used in the 2012 New York Recycles calendar as a daily reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle.
“I was very surprised and happy and excited about winning first prize,” Sam said.
Sam’s mother said they will travel upstate to Cooperstown Nov. 17 to accept an award at the state’s recycling conference.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
