Scott recognizes teen for cleanup efforts

Gianna Baker’s passion for helping others and the environment was recognized by Scott Township leaders last month.

Township commissioners awarded Baker, who graduated this spring from Chartiers Valley High School, a proclamation for putting together a team of volunteers to collect more than 100 pounds of trash and litter in the Scrubgrass Road area.

“It was a great experience and source to spread awareness on the issue of plastic pollution,” Baker said. “In addition, I would like to thank the Scott Conservancy for their hard work and dedication to helping my project.”

Pursuing an independent research project, Baker said she knew she wanted to do something that would raise awareness for an issue. She partnered with the Scott Conservancy to coordinate the cleanup and learn more about conservation.

“I feel the issue of plastic pollution is known but never discussed enough, and has the biggest consequences for the planet we live on,” Baker said. “My goal was to publicly outreach to the community to help raise awareness and begin more efforts to cleaning up our communities.”

The cleanup day was April 12, Baker said. Cleaning up along roads, such as Bower Hill and Scrubgrass, the 26 volunteers collected 22 full bags of trash, estimated to be more than 100 pounds of litter.

“The most rewarding part was the amount of community members who actually stopped their cars when driving past to thank us for what we were doing,” Baker said. “That itself succeeded my goal of making an impact, knowing people appreciated the hard work that the volunteers and I put in to help our Earth.

“In addition, getting recognition for the event was a way to raise awareness for this issue and push to get my community cleanups, which are a solution and step toward solving plastic pollution.”

Volunteers included: Ashlyn Tornabene, Ava Antonucci, Ava Warinski, Bellah Kellner, Calle Milliken, Nino Baker, Hope Hertzler, Iyla Ozbey, Kaitlyn Kuczinski, Keira Costello, Lexi Flowers, Olivia Kennedy, Mallorie LaGamba, Morgan Snyder, Seth Neely, Kylie Miller, Lauren Sams, Natalia Palumbo, Lexi Seger, Jenna Sexton, Valarie Suter, Kaiya Morrison, Charlee Kinee, Megan Witte, Melissa Moran and Nina Baker.

Gianna Baker said her passion for sciences was grown through courses at Chartiers Valley and teachers Jodi King and Amy Tremel.

“This project experience has opened new doors and possibilities which could possibly lead to a career related to this in the future,” she said.

Baker will attend PennWest-Edinboro to study forensic chemistry.