NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ASHBURN, VA (September 30, 2025)—The South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA), the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), and national nonprofit JASON Learning are proud to announce the winners of the first-ever South Carolina Recycling Poster Contest, an innovative statewide initiative designed to inspire students to explore the power of recycling and its role in building a sustainable future.
The 2024-25 contest challenged South Carolina students in grades K-12 to create a poster advertisement centered on the three guiding principles of recycling: Sustainable, Resilient, and Essential, reflecting ReMA’s refreshed branding and mission. Students submitted entries individually or in teams of two and were encouraged to incorporate real-world examples learned through research to demonstrate how recycling is transforming communities and creating opportunity.
“We are grateful for our partnership with JASON Learning and ReMA in creating meaningful learning experiences that connect students to industries they may never have considered. This contest both introduced students to South Carolina’s thriving recycling industry and provided an opportunity for students to earn statewide recognition while developing crucial research skills. It is exactly the kind of authentic learning experience that prepares our students for success.“
—Dr. Quincie Moore, Executive Director, South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA)
In total, 57 posters were submitted by 68 students across 13 school districts, representing a strong launch for this inaugural year. The submissions were divided by grade bands and judged in two rounds—first by SCASA, ReMA, and JASON Learning staff, and then by recycling industry experts who assessed each finalist for industry accuracy and creativity.
South Carolina is a national leader in the recycling industry, home to more than 300 recycling companies that support 42,700 jobs and generate $13.6 billion in annual economic impact. Recycling plays a vital role in the state’s manufacturing, logistics, and environmental services sectors and is recognized as a key driver of middle-skill job growth and innovation.
However, as the industry continues to expand, there is a growing need to build awareness and understanding of recycling among students, educators, and communities. Programs like this contest help fill that gap—connecting classroom learning to real-world career pathways and supporting the future of South Carolina’s green economy.
“ReMA was proud to introduce the recycled materials industry to young people across the state through this contest, and the winning entries demonstrate that the future of the recycled materials workforce is bright. We were thrilled to see South Carolina embrace this contest and showcase how recycling is resilient, essential and sustainable.“
—Cheryl Coleman, Senior Vice President, The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)
Contest winners received:
- Cash prize for the overall student winner and their teacher
- A custom banner for display at their school
- An unveiling ceremony at the SCASA office with family and school leadership
- Recognition at SCASA’s statewide i3 Convention
- Their poster featured on JASON.org
“ReMA was proud to introduce the recycled materials industry to young people across the state through this contest, and the winning entries demonstrate that the future of the recycled materials workforce is bright. We were thrilled to see South Carolina embrace this contest and showcase how recycling is resilient, essential and sustainable.“
—Cheryl Coleman, Senior Vice President, The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)
2024-25 South Carolina Recycling Poster Contest Winners
Overall Contest Winner:
- Winner: Arianna Weeks, 11th grade, Clover High School
- Teacher: Preethi Ramasamy
Grades 3-5:
- Winner: Kennedy McCaslan and Vatarus Tillman, 5th grade, John C. Calhoun Elementary School
- Teacher: Renee McCaslan
Grades 6-8:
- Winner: Alicia Bella Marie Budney, 6th grade, Green Charter School–Simpsonville
- Teacher: Christine Jacobs
Grades 9-12:
- Winner: Lindsay Riemer, 11th grade, Clover High School
- Teacher: Preethi Ramasamy
Additionally, 11 entries earned Honorable Mention status, and all student participants received certificates recognizing their efforts.
To view the winning posters and learn more about the contest, visit: https://jason.org/2025-sc-rema-jason-recycling-contest/.
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About JASON Learning
JASON Learning is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforming science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through real-world STEM curricula, project-based learning experiences for PreK-12 students, and high-quality professional development for teachers. JASON’s mission is to “inspire and educate students everywhere through real science and exploration.” To learn more about JASON, visit https://jason.org/.
JASON Media Contact: Jenna Davis, jdavis@jason.org.
