Photo submitted to Times Observer Beaty-Warren Middle School STEM competition teammates (from left) Sierra Craig, Attie Corey, and Hayden Schuler with the litter collection model that collected them a second-place award in the state in the National eCybermission STEM Competition.

It’s a long way from Give-a-Hoot, Don’t Pollute.

A team of three Beaty-Warren Middle School students recently earned second place in the state in the National eCybermission STEM competition. The competition was open to students in grades six through nine.

Teams were asked to create a STEM solution to a community issue that the members are passionate about improving.

Sierra Craig, Attie Corey, and Hayden Schuler tackled littering.

“Our goal for our project was to make our world a better place by informing everyone we can about the dangers of littering,” Schuler said.

“From our project I learned how serious littering really is,” Craig said. “People shouldn’t take it lightly. It could cause things like species of birds dying out and more.”

With support from their advisor, Meggi Brown, the students created a litter collection model that would pick up trash along the road.

“It was definitely a different experience for me,” Corey said. “I found it very interesting learning different things about littering. The questions they asked also pushed us to learn more about littering.”

“Littering is something people just brush off, but they shouldn’t,” Craig said. “We as a community should take initiative.”