Ulysses students continue adopt-a-highway project

(Story courtesy of the Kansas Department of Transportation)

Last year, three Ulysses High School seniors worked to revive Adopt-A-Highway in Grant County. Adopt-A-Highway is a highway clean-up program that was started by the Kansas Department of Transportation in 1989 to help keep Kansas clean and litter free. The program recognizes groups, organizations, businesses and individuals who volunteer to keep Kansas highways clean by completing three litter pick-ups each year.

“The students were successful in getting three organizations to complete three pick-ups in Grant County last year. However, they were concerned that the program would lose momentum after they graduated, so they recruited students to take over the project and continue their work this year as part of the senior project management requirement for graduation,” said Lisa Knoll, Public Affairs Manager for KDOT.

Those efforts paid off as this year seven Ulysses high school students are continuing to revive the program in Grant County. Alonzo Martinez, Juan Urbina, Lalo Sanchez and Pol Vilardebo are working to organize and recruit organizations, churches and businesses to adopt highway sections, while Ernan Rivera, Fernando Madrigal, and Omar Lerma are working on scheduling clean ups for organizations who have already adopted highway sections.

According to Lalo Sanchez, “Adopt-A-Highway is important because it keeps the community clean and helps preserve Ulysses.” He’s hoping that students will continue to work with KDOT in the years to come. “Take care of the world and it will take care of you,” he said.

If you are interested in learning more about Adopt-A-Highway in Ulysses and Grant County or would like to schedule a presentation, contact Juan Urbina at juanurbina@student.ulysses.org or Lisa Knoll with KDOT at lisa.knoll@ks.gov or 620-765-7080.