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The winners for the 2025 RecycleBot Challenge have been revealed. Embracing the spirit of "Earth Month'' this April, Keep Rutherford County Beautiful (KRCB) invited third graders across Rutherford County to craft robots from recycled materials, all in a bid to assist mascots Roxi and Rocki the Raccoon in their mission to upcycle and preserve the environment.
KRCB received 101 entries, showcasing a wealth of creative talent from across the county. The competition entries came from Pinnacle Elementary, Rutherfordton Elementary, Trinity Christian School, Lake Lure Classical Academy, and the Homeschool Association of Rutherford County. The submissions made the judging process challenging for the panel of judges, including Mandi Williams with Kidsenses Museum, Amber Saint Clair with Rutherford County Library System, Jenna Bailey with Artifacturing, Taylor Hardin and Elizabeth Toney with Tourism Authority of Rutherford County, Jerry Stensland with Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, and Daphne Homen with Rutherford Outdoor Coalition.
"The amount of creativity from this year's third graders made judging a difficult but rewarding experience. Many students showed a commitment to the environment and our community in a unique way through their RecycleBots, and it was encouraging to see their great ideas for ways to keep our county clean and green," says Jerry Stensland.
The diversity and creativity of the RecycleBots prompted the committee to award students in eight categories including Most Unique, Best Use of Materials, and Fan Favorite, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication of Rutherford County's budding environmental stewards.
Winners for Best Overall (Bot and Story):
1st- Bethanne Smith with "Daziy" the RecycleBot at Trinity Christian School
2nd- Kason Owens with "Sir Pinch-A-Lot" at Rutherfordton Elementary
3rd- Landon Rumbaugh with "R2-Recycle-Droid" at Trinity Christian School
Winners for Fan Favorite (based on Facebook votes):
1st- Lincoln Scarlette with "Mr. Clean Abraham 3000" at Rutherfordton Elementary
2nd- Ava Allen with "Stephanie" at Trinity Christian School
3rd- Sha'Harri Miller with "Ro'Harri" at Rutherfordton Elementary
Honorable Mention / Izabella Manis with "Botie" at Rutherfordton Elementary
Winners for Most Creative (good imagination or original idea):
1st- Khloe Daggett with "Molly" at Pinnacle Elementary School
2nd- Harper Braddy and Mason Wentworth with "Bob the Water" at Lake Lure Classical Academy
3rd- Colton Dobbins with "Bingo" at Rutherfordton Elementary
Winners for Most Unique:
1st- Ryland Honeycutt and Dakota Spencer with "Capy" at Lake Lure Classical Academy
2nd- Blair Dunk with "Light Brite" at Rutherfordton Elementary
3rd- Rosey Jackson with "Chris Wrapps" at Rutherfordton Elementary
Winners for Best Use of Paper and/or Textiles:
1st- Bodhi Walker with "Animal Rescue Friend (A.R.F.)" at Rutherfordton Elementary
2nd- John Murillo with "Spongey" at Pinnacle Elementary
3rd- Willow Vega with "Bloom" at Pinnacle Elementary
Winners for Best Use of Plastic and/or Styrofoam:
1st- Jexxton Smith with "Tommy" at Rutherfordton Elementary
2nd- Lexi Pye and Carson Irving with "Steve" at Lake Lure Classical Academy
3rd- Staley Philbeck with "Helene SOS Bot" at Rutherfordton Elementary
Winners for Roxi's Picks:
1st- Maddie Crummie and Maliya Rollins with "Lucy" at Lake Lure Classical Academy
2nd- Greyson Amos and Neiko Jones with "Knight" at Pinnacle Elementary
3rd- Frankie Krigbaum with "He-Cylce" at Rutherfordton Elementary
Winners for Rocki's Picks:
1st- Will Faris with "Gerald" at Rutherfordton Elementary
2nd- Ayden Hertz and Allie Gabler with "Bob" at Lake Lure Classical Academy
3rd- Ella Jackson with "Addy" at Rutherfordton Elementary
All third-graders, by school, who entered the RecycleBot Challenge:
Homeschool Association of Rutherford County: Caroline Hughes.
Lake Lure Classical Academy: Stihl Adams, Irie Marlow-Halterman, McKinley Keever, Nyla Walling, Marleigh Bardol, Noah Toms, Eliza Marek, Hayden DeFreitas, Tobias Harper, Aaron Dickason, Carter Wilkins, Eleanor Deist, MaryAnn Dotson, Michelle Whiteside, Jax Fowler, Jamie Todd, Avery DeFreitas, Jeremiah Alford, Harper Braddy, Mason Wentworth, Eli Gordon, Ava Stepp, Miya Owens-Matz, Eli Fish, Maddie Crummie, Maliya Rollins, Lexi Pye, Carson Irving, Silver Neal, Felix Smith, Ayden Hertz, Allie Gabler, Nola Adams, Toby Samolinski, Ryland Honeycutt, Dakota Spencer, Blair Johnson, and Silvana Van Eron.
Pinnacle Elementary School: Willow Vega, Dixie Carlton, Isabella Lovelace, Camden Edgerton, Keeden Dukes, Eliana Renteria-Gonzalez, Natalie Parker, Greyson Amos, Neiko Jones, Jackson Parker, Otis Bailey, Emmett Havro, Asher Sisk, Khloe Daggett, John Murillo, Lela Brown, Pasilee Robinson, Taylor Cobb, Madelyn Murphy, Vincent Adorno Cox, and Giacobbi Wingo.
Rutherfordton Elementary School: Aleeyah Owenby, Colton Dobbins, Andre Tamayo, Collin Saunders, Will Farris, Aleeyah Owenby, Jexxton Smith, Lincoln Scarlett, Meeah Chavez Celaya, Izabella Manis, Bodhi Walker, Aubree Owensby, Bentley Blanton, Rosey Jackson, Kaylah Lynch, Duncan Link, Coen Linker, Lucas Gilbert, Avia Whiteside, Jacob Yelton, Gaincarlo Tamayo, Owen Lowery, Jade Keller, Josiah Rodriguez, Annabelle Rife, Maddox Jarrett, Bryce Henderson, Trinity Campbell, Billy McDaniel, Alina Escalara, Raighlyn James, Austin Pavley, Deacon Withrow, Sha'Harri Miller, Rowen McDaniel, Staley Philbeck, Josiah Rodriguez, Ella Jackson, Autumn Shaffer, Kendall Gordon, William Connor, Nolan Washburn, Donté Hampton, Aiyanna Kelly, Hadlee Burris, Jordynn Horne, Kason Owens, Frankie Krigbaum, Blair Dunk, Peyton Sain, Eva Rosa, Cooper Steiner, Braylee Watkins, Journey Hunt, and Lily Fraioli.
Trinity Christian School: Ava Allen, Elise Whiteside, Liam Sisk, Korbyn Ware, Coleman Fleming, Bethanne Smith, Hiram Bullington, Landon Rumbaugh, October McDowell, and Alden Flack.
