Recycling program earns Armijo senior Violet Richardson Award

FAIRFIELD — Lucienne Altman-Newell loves being outside. So it’s no surprise she has concern for the environment.

It’s that concern that earned her second place for the Violet Richardson Award from Soroptimist International of Central Solano County.

The Armijo High School senior beefed up the recycling program on her campus. Altman-Newell got some garbage totes donated. She and other students, who are on the school’s Green Team, painted them in school colors.

Prior, there were only recycling bins in classrooms, she said.

The extra effort, which was done on her summer break, is a win-win for all involved. Special-needs students still do the recycling and keep the profits. The school grounds are cleaner and Altman-Newell no longer has to take school recycling home.

“It feels good,” she said of the recycling program. “Usually when I do things, they are more of an assignment type. This is much more physically obvious. It’s shared with other people.”

It was easy to do, too, she said.

“I wanted to give back to Armijo. Armijo has given a lot to me,” Altman-Newell said.

Altman-Newell learned about the award, given to young women, ages 14-17, who are actively volunteering in their schools or community, from last year’s winner, Kathleen Finnigan. The Violet Richardson Award is named after the first president of Soroptimist.

She and the Green Team also make videos about the importance of recycling to share with fellow students. The idea is to get them enthusiastic about recycling.

The Green Team plans an Earth Day program at the school, as well as a cleanup around the Suisun Marsh.

Altman-Newell is the editor of the Armijo Signal newspaper, her second year in the post. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and has been in Armijo’s International Baccalaureate program for 3½ years.

She will attend Scripps College in Claremont but isn’t sure what will be her major. Philosophy will either be her minor or second major.

“I want to try out different areas in college and see what it is I have the most enthusiasm for,” Altman-Newell said.

In five years, she hopes to have finished college and be serving in the Peace Corps or enrolled in graduate school.

She’s well-traveled, having visited six European countries. The city of Amsterdam was her favorite stop, followed by the country of Switzerland.

Altman-Newell will receive a cash award for herself and the same amount for the Green Team.

“It’s nice to be appreciated,” she said.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amaginnisdr.

Amy Maginnis-Honey

Amy Maginnis-Honey joined the staff of the Daily Republic in 1980. She’ll tell you she was only 3 at the time. Over the past three decades she’s done a variety of jobs in the newsroom. Today, she covers arts and entertainment and writes for the Living and news pages.

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