EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
The EVSC announces the Academy for Innovative Studies and New Tech Institute have been declared co-winners of the first-ever "Operation Hot Mess" high school litter competition.
The schools will receive a free party for recruiting the highest percentage of volunteers to pick-up trash based on student enrollment.
More than 500 Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation high school students, teachers, family and friends picked-up trash ranging from cigarette butts to couches during the competition held on the Evansville's west side Saturday.
The volunteers filled hundreds of bags with trash and took them to the 14 News parking lot for a ceremonial dumping of trash into a large Allied Waste trash truck.
"Operation Hot Mess was a raging success. The turnout exceeded my expectations, and I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm," said Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. "I look forward to doing this again next year and getting even more people from our community involved."
The Academy for Innovative Studies, with an enrollment of 182 high school students, recruited 101 participants for "Operation Hot Mess" or 55 percent of their school's high school enrollment. New Tech Institute, which has 206 students, recruited 97 volunteers or 47 percent of the school's total enrollment.
For both school's high percentage of participation, they have won a free party on Oct. 27, hosted by 14 News and Heritage Federal Credit Union.
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All members of Operation Hot Mess after their day of cleaning up Evansville's west side.
The volunteers filled hundreds of bags with trash and took them to the 14 News parking lot for a ceremonial dumping of trash into a large Allied Waste trash truck.
