S.P.E.A.K. wins Mascot Match-up
contest, prize is recycling bins

Winning entry shows mascot Storm recycling paper

ANGOLA, Ind. -- A photograph of Storm's effort to recycle was a fan favorite on Facebook and Trine University's mascot then won a drawing to get recycling bins for the campus.

On Dec. 3, S.P.E.A.K. for the Earth learned it won the Mascot Match-up contest through Busch Systems, a Barrie, Ontario, developer and maker of new molded recycling, waste and compost containers. The group's recycling chair, Dakota Bagwell, submitted the photo of Storm putting paper into a recycling bin. On Facebook, people could vote for their favorite picture, and after the deadline, the three most popular mascots were entered into a drawing and Storm won for S.P.E.A.K. (Students Promoting Environmental Awareness & Knowledge).

S.P.E.A.K. will be able to select $5,000 worth of recycling bins for the university. A lack of bins has been an obstacle to implementing a campuswide recycling program.

Bagwell, a sophomore marketing major from Kokomo, has devoted hours to recruit support and work toward implementing a self-sustaining recycling program on campus that is based on voluntary participation. S.P.E.A.K. members will work with Busch Systems and Trine administrators to choose bins that best fit university needs.