Kaptur Awards Winners of Inaugural Marine Debris Challenge at Cedar Point

SANDUSKY, OH— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) presented awards to the winners of the First Annual Marine Debris Challenge at Cedar Point today. The competition encouraged local area students to develop first-hand experience with marine debris and use that experience to raise awareness in the community. Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District is the first in the nation to host this initiative.

All students in grades 9 – 12 enrolled in recognized public, private, and home schools in Ohio’s Ninth Congressional were eligible to participate. The competition was administered through a partnership between Congresswoman Kaptur, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ohio Sea Grant College Program, and The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory.

The First Place Winning Team is Alyssa Viengmany, a one woman team from Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio. Her teacher/leader for the project is Joe Carstensen.

The Second Place Team is from Perkins High School in Sandusky, Ohio. The team consists of students Hannah Schoen, Madison Leffler, Abby Singler, Ashley Kaufman and Olivia Schaefer. Their teacher/leader for the project is Ashlie Gowizka.

The Third Place Team is from St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. The team consists of students Natalie Barendt, Faith Cole, Joslyn Muniz, Spencer Nezovish, Esther Ngemba, Grace Semon, Margaret Sweeney, Stephanie Rolon, and Jadalie Pacheco. Their teacher/leader for the project is Mary Ellen Scott.

The top three teams have their videos playing all day at Cedar Point and again during events this summer at The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory.

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