Students, businesses get awards
By Jana Seshadri
"I like nature and colors," said Patty Boonlue. The fifth-grade student at Bishop Elementary School often combines both to draw beautiful pictures-some of them have even proven to be award-worthy.
Boonlue's drawing of the different seasons was one of the winning pictures in the "What I Love about Nature" art contest organized by the city of Sunnyvale. Out of 75 entries, 10 were chosen for special recognition at the Environmental Achievement Awards held on April 23 at city hall. The city of Sunnyvale recognized 10 students and five businesses at the awards ceremony. Sunnyvale Mayor Fred Fowler and Marvin Rose, director of public works, presented the awards to recipients.
Ten-year-old Daniel Lee is a fifth-grader at Vargas Elementary School. Daniel's drawing of an eagle swooping down on a fish was another winning picture.
"I think the eagle's cool," Daniel said.
The students dabbled in watercolors, color pencils and paints to depict their ideas.
Also receiving recognition was Pacific Gas & Electric and Peek Signal Maintenance, who received the Energy Efficiency Award for initiating the rebate program for cities, which cut electricity consumption by 50 percent. Cities replaced incandescent traffic signal lamps with light-emitting diode (LED) signal lamps, thereby reducing electricity demand. Sunnyvale installed 2,106 energy-efficient LED traffic signal lamps.
"I am proud to recognize these individuals and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the environment," Fowler said.
Juniper Networks received the Transportation Achievement Award for its success in implementing a transportation demand management program, which reached its two-year goal milestones in one year. By using Eco passes, busses and vanpools, company employees are participating in creative programs established by Juniper management.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company received the Pollution Prevention Award for cutting heavy-metal discharges in wastewater by more than 50 percent through implementation of a new wastewater program.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Lockheed Martin received the Waste Reduction and Recycling Award for both contributing toward reducing waste. AMD has diverted more than 50 percent, or 2.75 million pounds of solid waste, from the landfill during the past year. Lockheed, with more than 8,000 employees and 40 buildings, has diverted 45 percent of its waste stream during the past year.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
