Results From the First Ever ‘Operation Hot Mess’

The Academy for Innovative Studies and New Tech Institute have been declared co-winners of the first-ever “Operation Hot Mess” high school litter competition. The schools will receive a free party for recruiting the highest percentage of volunteers to pick-up trash based on student enrollment.

More than 500 Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation high school students, teachers, family and friends picked-up trash ranging from cigarette butts to couches during the competition held on the City’s West Side Saturday. The volunteers filled hundreds of bags with trash and took them to the 14News parking lot at 1115 Mt. Auburn Road for a ceremonial dumping of trash into a large Allied Waste trash truck.

“Operation Hot Mess was a raging success! The turnout exceeded my expectations, and I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm,” said Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. “I look forward to doing this again next year and getting even more people from our community involved.”

The Academy for Innovative Studies, with an enrollment of 182 high school students, recruited 101 participants for “Operation Hot Mess” or 55 percent of their school’s high school enrollment. New Tech Institute, which has 206 students, recruited 97 volunteers or 47 percent of the school’s total enrollment.

For both school’s high percentage of participation – they will win a free party on Oct. 27, hosted by 14News and Heritage Federal Credit Union.

“Operation Hot Mess” is an outgrowth of Mayor Winnecke’s Clean Evansville initiative that organizes individuals on the first Saturday of every month to help make our community more attractive by cleaning up neighborhoods and roadways. The competition was made possible through the support of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, 14News WFIE-TV and Heritage Federal Credit Union.

Clean Evansville is coordinated by the City of Evansville, Keep Evansville Beautiful and volunteer members of the Clean Evansville Committee. Allied Waste provides trash collection services and Rural King donates supplies. Accuride, Vectren and Fifth Third Bank have committed employees to participate in the monthly clean-ups. Volunteers from other companies and organizations interested in participating should call Keep Evansville Beautiful at 425-4461.

For More Information Contact:

Marsha Jackson, EVSC Chief Communication Officer
812-435-0206
marsha.jackson@evsc.k12.in.us

Ella Johnson, Mayor’s Office Director of Communication
812-436-4965
ejohnsonwatson@evansvillegov.org