A real sign of commitment

The winner wanted to inspire others to make an impact.
& lt;a href=mailto:kubik@vindy.com & gt;By MARALINE KUBIK & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Having her artwork posted on a billboard was just a dream for Amanda Clawson, 14, of Struthers. Now that it's up, the eighth-grader hopes it will inspire Mahoning Valley residents to clean up and protect the river.
Amanda's poster, which features a well-kept neighborhood along the Mahoning River, refers to the waterway as "the world's greatest thing" and asks residents to help save it.
"We're trying to make the river a better place and I was trying to convince people that we can make it better," Amanda said, referring to her artwork, which has been transposed onto a billboard along Route 616 between Crogan Plumbing and the Shell service station.
She was one of about 500 Struthers pupils in grades five through eight to take part in a poster contest with a Mahoning River theme, just one of the activities incorporated into an intensive program designed to teach kids about conservation, pollution prevention and protection and cleanup of the river.
This is the second year Struthers pupils have participated in the program, the Mahoning River Watershed Education Project.
A shocked winner
Completing her poster took "all day," Amanda said. Although she thought she had as good a chance as anyone of winning the contest, "I was shocked when my principal told me I won," she said. "I can't draw."
"Your poster was designed wonderfully," disagreed Ron Mistovich, an art teacher at the school. "You put your heart into it."
First, second, third and honorable mention prizes were awarded in each grade with the grand prize winner chosen from among all of the first-place winners, Mistovich said.
First-place winners received $50 savings bonds. Second-place winners received $10 gift certificates from Dairy Queen. Third-place winners received sports bottles and folders. Honorable mention winners -- three from each grade -- received certificates.
Amanda is the daughter of Sam and Pam Clawson and said she may study art in high school. Her poster will be on the billboard for about a month.
& lt;a href=mailto:kubik@vindy.com & gt;kubik@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;