Students win for their 'fridge art'

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Old aluminum, painted plaster and recycled tires -- not usually what one thinks of being on the outside of a typical icebox.

Austin Energy held its first "Recycled Refrigerator Art Contest" Friday morning. Students from 10 local high schools participated in the contest.

The theme of the contest included using images from a Mexican bingo card with a cactus to depict the familiar recycle-and-reuse symbol, to woodcuts arranged to signify the Earth.

Archer Black and Maximiliano Saravia from Anderson High School designed the door that won the Judge's Choice category.

"I feel pretty happy because this my first time winning something," said Saravia,  "and it's good because art is what I love. Winning something like this because of my art, it's really good."

Other winners included:

• Marketing Excellence: Sarah Christensen and Owen Summers --McCallum High School
• Best Interpretation: Dallin Phelps, Tran Vu, Isabelle Griffin, Jlia McIntosh, Diwu Zhou -- McNeil High School
• Most Original: Brittany Stamey -- Akins High School
• Emerging Artist: Gina Senese and Lucy  Ellis -- Westlake High School

The artwork of the winners will be displayed at the baggage claim area at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during February, in select Sears stores and at community events, such as Earth Day.

Austin Energy offers residential customers a $50 rebate to recycle old but working refrigerators and freezers.