Member schools invited to participate in litter prevention contest for a chance to win individual scholarships, prizes, and donations for school beautification projects
View video to learn how to enter
HERMITAGE, Tenn. – Oct. 25, 2021 – Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) and Nobody Trashes Tennessee, the state’s litter prevention campaign managed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), are teaming up for the TSSAA No Trash November Student Video Contest.
The social media-driven contest is part of No Trash November, a statewide litter cleanup and awareness initiative. TSSAA member schools and students are encouraged to submit a video about why it’s essential to keep Tennessee litter-free. Students and individual schools will be recognized for their efforts through individual scholarships, prizes, and donations for school beautification projects.
“We are pleased to partner with TSSAA on the student video contest during No Trash November and are excited to see what the students come up with for their entries,” said Shawn Bible, manager, Highway Beautification Office, TDOT. “Reducing the negative impacts of litter on our roadways and waterways is critical, and students play an important role through their personal and community actions.”
Through a mix of social media channels using dedicated hashtags (#TSSAALitter Contest, #NoTrashNovember, #NobodyTrashesTN), students may submit their video anytime between Nov. 1 – 19. Winners in each category will receive the following:
- The most creative high school student entry will win a $1,000 scholarship.
- The most creative middle school entry will receive an iPad.
- The top three high schools and middle schools with the most entries will receive a $500, $300, $200 donation to their schools.
Winning entries will be announced on Dec. 4, 2021. For contest rules and how to submit a video, visit https://tssaa.wishpondpages.com/notrashnovembervideocontest/
“This new partnership is a win-win. It sends a great message to our schools about the importance of maintaining a safe and clean community, and it provides an opportunity for our students to showcase their efforts in their community,” said TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress.
Throughout the month, all residents are encouraged to show their support for a litter-free Tennessee by using the #NobodyTrashesTennessee and #NoTrashNovember hashtags in social media to highlight their litter prevention actions throughout the month. For additional ways to participate in No Trash November, visit: https://nobodytrashestennessee.com/5-ways-to-get-involved-with-no-trash-november/.
About Nobody Trashes Tennessee
Nobody Trashes Tennessee (NTT) is the State of Tennessee’s official litter prevention campaign managed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The campaign is rooted in research conducted by TDOT in 2016, including a “Visible Litter Study” that revealed that despite a drop of 53 percent in roadside trash between 2006 and 2016, there are still 100 million pieces of litter on the state’s roadways at any given time. TDOT spends $19 million annually on litter pickup and prevention education, funded by revenue from a tax on soft drink and malt beverages. Through a collaborative statewide approach, the TDOT Highway Beautification Office’s Litter Grant Program is responsible for removing an average of 11,573 tons of litter each year from all 95 counties in Tennessee. In 2020 alone, and despite COVID restrictions, county partners removed more than 21 million pounds of litter from 450,362 miles of Tennessee roadways. Thirty-seven percent of that statewide total was recycled. Additionally, 4,023 illegal roadside dumps were cleaned up, an increase of nearly 400 dump sites over the previous year—View TDOT’s 2020 Annual Litter Grant Report for more information. Learn more about the state’s litter reduction and education efforts and how to join the movement to reduce littering at NobodyTrashesTennessee.com. Two ways to get involved include the Adopt-A-Highway Program and reporting littering incidents through the Tennessee Litter Hotline (1-877-8LITTER).
About TSSAA
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association is a voluntary, nonprofit, self-supported organization conceived by school people (teachers, principals, superintendents) and administered by individuals carefully chosen to lead the program. The Association belongs to the member schools, and it serves them well in a very worthy purpose.