By Lookout Staff

May 11, 2010 --The exterior of four Big Blue Buses are currently displaying the winning posters of a student Earth Day contest. Two runner-up designs are on display in the bus interiors. The winning designers will be recognized at a special event on Thursday afternoon at Beach Park #1, located at 2600 Barnard Way.

The poster contest winners are Nell Kerndt from Edison Language Academy, Gigi Grossman from Roosevelt Elementary, Shayan Chetty from Lincoln Middle School and Chelsea Palmer from Santa Monica High School.

The competition is held each year to coincide with a variety of Earth Day activities around the city. It is run by Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment, the Big Blue Bus and the nonprofit Sustainable Works. The theme for this year's contest was, "Go Green, Ride Blue. What does sustainable transit mean to you?" The contest was open to all kindergarten through 12th-grade students who live or attend school in Santa Monica.

"Helping kids of all ages become more aware of public transportation and its significance to sustainability is an important goal for us," said Dan Dawson, customer relations manager for the Big Blue Bus. "I know the contest winners and their families must be thrilled seeing their posters on so many buses around town."

In addition to the grand prize and runner-up entries, all student artwork submitted for the competition will be on display at the free event on Thursday. The event will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Festivities will include food, giveaways and raffle prizes.

Attendees are encouraged to take public transportation, walk, bike or carpool to the event. A complimentary valet service will be provided for bicyclists and a special raffle will take place for attendees who turn in bus or bike valet tickets.