http://www.valleyairnow.com/

James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2009 - Index

EXPRESSIONS
Drawing
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
A
Art students throughout schools in Winchester and Frederick
County drew a breath of fresh air last semester and illustrated
what they could do to protect the air. Valley AIRNow, a public
education and outreach program created by JMU, invited students
to enter the first Thankful for Clean Air art contest. Young
artists were asked to draw inspiration from the theme “What
YOU can do to protect the air that WE breathe.”
The students’ examples of ways to protect the air included carpooling,
taking alternative transportation, refueling in the evening,
checking tire pressures, maintaining autos properly and reducing
vehicle idling. Nearly 100 children from public and private schools,
and child-learning centers submitted entries from November 2007
to January 2008. Their drawings were judged by an organization
of arts management students from Shenandoah University.
The winning artwork was so well received by the community
that Valley AIRNow printed customized postage stamps to honor
the talented and environmentally conscious young artists. The
stamps are used in several educational programs and are given in
appreciation to existing partners who have shown extraordinary
environmental stewardship.
JMU developed and staffed the Valley AIRNow outreach program
after being granted a contract by the City of Winchester and
Frederick County in 2005. The program is part of the northern
Shenandoah Valley Air Quality Improvement Task Force, and
its mission is to improve overall air quality and increase knowledge
of air quality issues in the northern Shenandoah Valley area.
C.J. Brodrick Hartman is the principal investigator of the Valley
AIRNow grant. She directs the JMU Institute for Stewardship of
the Natural World. Tiffany Tumer Johnson (’06M) serves as coprincipal
investigator for the grant through the end of this fiscal
year. Hartman and Johnson are responsible for
implementing educational programs for primary
and secondary schools to address ground-level
ozone issues in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.
The program also offers initiatives for local governments,
businesses, civic organizations, formal and
nonformal educators, and the general public. M
✱ See more of the winning artwork, learn more
about Valley AIRNow and learn 10 simple steps to
help clear the air at www.valleyairnow.com/.
By Colleen Dixon
Fourth-grade student
Sophia Addison’s drawing
(right) earned an
honorable mention
in the Valley AIRNow
Thankful for Clean Air
art contest. JMU developed
Valley AIRNow,
which created stamps
with student artwork
like kindergartener
Allison Ward’s below.
About the Artists Nearly 100 young artists in Winchester and Frederick
County entered the 2008 Valley AIRNow Thankful for Clean Air art
contest. First- through third-place winners were third-grader Sophia Dorsey,
fourth-grader Bailey Taylor and kindergartener Allison Ward. Honorable
mention recognitions went to second-grader Edward Buzalsky and fourthgraders
Sophia Addison and Grace Baggett.
24
MADISON MAGAZINE
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF VALLEY AIRNOW