Bow Seat Announces Winners of National Student Competition Focused on Plastic Pollution and Ocean Conservation

September 21, 2017

As plastic pollution increasingly threatens aquatic life, our environment, the economy, and human health, Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs (Bow Seat) is proud to recognize young wavemakers who are engaging their local communities to protect our oceans and waterways.

This week Bow Seat announced the winners of its inaugural Marine Debris Creative Advocacy Competition, which challenged middle and high school students from across the country to design and implement a campaign that educates the public about marine debris and inspires action. The students were encouraged to utilize the creative arts as a tool in their campaigns.

View All 2017 Competition Winners >

Blue Brasher-Rues, a 10^th grade student at Fayetteville High School in Arkansas, won the Competition’s Gold Award for her campaign, “The Blue Earth.” To raise awareness about plastic pollution in her community, Brasher-Rues planned and curated a student art show and open mic, securing donations, sponsorships, and publicity to host a successful event that connected attendees with each other and the environment.

“This project taught me that people do care once they are informed,” said Brasher-Rues. “It is the job of the people who know about an issue to spread knowledge and passion on that subject. The Blue Earth brought so many people together through education and art, and it showed me that people can make a difference.”

Other Competition winners included students who introduced a marine debris tracker app to their coastal community; published a children’s book; hosted beach cleanups; produced educational videos; and presented at elementary schools, town meetings, and community fairs.

Brasher-Rues received a $5,000 cash award; in addition, Bow Seat donated $1,500 to her school to acknowledge its support of students who want to use their creative talents to give a voice to the oceans. The Silver Award winner received $2,500; Bronze Award winners, $1,000; Honorable Mention Award winners, $500; and Notable Award winners, $100. Adult sponsors of winning campaigns each received $250.

Bow Seat’s Marine Debris Creative Advocacy Competition is made possible by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, which supports projects that use outreach and education to inspire people to reduce and prevent marine debris. These projects aim to change behavior, especially among youth, and to provide them with opportunities to engage in active, hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding of the marine debris problem.

“We were so impressed by the creative, inspiring, and engaging efforts of our Competition participants,” said Linda Cabot, Founder and President of Bow Seat. “Youth are enthusiastic, energetic, and optimistic – and when they are empowered, they can do amazing things.

“We hope the Competition empowers teens to continue to think innovatively about solutions to marine debris. The students’ campaigns demonstrate how the arts can raise awareness of environmental issues in ways that motivate the public to take action,” continued Cabot. “We are thankful for the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s support in helping us provide youth with the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences that make a real difference in their communities.”

The 2018 Marine Debris Creative Advocacy Competition is open now through June 18, 2018, to middle and high school students in the United States.

Bow Seat has also run the international Ocean Awareness Student Contest since 2012, a program in which students explore human impacts on ocean health through visual art, film, poetry, and prose. Nearly 10,000 teenagers worldwide have participated since the Contest launched, and more than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded. In 2017, Bow Seat received entries from 63 countries and 48 U.S. states.

Bow Seat seeks out opportunities to launch youth into the “artivist” world by expanding the reach of their work through exhibitions, publishing opportunities, and merchandise sales featuring their artwork. Bow Seat also serves as an educational resource on ocean conservation and creative advocacy by presenting at conferences, participating in local and global environmental initiatives, and providing classroom resources.

To learn more about the 2017 Marine Debris Creative Advocacy Competition’s winning campaigns and the 2018 Competition,  visit www.bowseat.org.