Harrison Middle School Students Participate in T-Shirt Design Contest and Learn about
Water!
Since 2003, the City of Harrison has been working through the Michigan Wellhead Protection Program, a
federal program aimed at protecting drinking water within local communities. Although this program is
voluntary, communities that participate, take the necessary steps to safeguard their drinking water sources
from contaminants. Among the many facets of the program, the City had to implement public education
activities. The City worked with the Michigan Rural Water Association (MRWA) to apply for grant
funding through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). A portion of the grant
was dedicated to educating students in Harrison.
In the spring of 2014, the MRWA and the City worked with Harrison Middle School to organize a
drinking water protection t-shirt design contest. Middle school students were given the challenge of
designing a t-shirt that demonstrated the importance and protection of water. With a previous grant, the
City had donated groundwater models to Harrison Public Schools. Through the groundwater model,
students had the opportunity to see what life looks like underground and witnessed what happens when a
drinking water well becomes contaminated. The model shows students how contamination would move
through the groundwater cycle and discussed what could potentially be impacted. They also brainstormed
on ways to prevent contamination from occurring. Next, students were given the task of designing a tshirt based on what they had learned.
The City of Harrison Wellhead Protection Committee reviewed the submittals. According to Kelly Hon,
MRWA Training Specialist, “there were a number of excellent drawings which made it a difficult task for
the Wellhead Protection Committee.” The Committee chose Megan Cole, 8th grade student as the 2014
winner. Megan received a cash prize and all students that participated received a t-shirt with the winning
design.
The City would like to thank the Middle School teachers for making this project a success! For more
information about the City of Harrison Wellhead Protection Program or to get involved, please contact
Tracey Beadle, City of Harrison at 989-539-7145.