Wallingford Elementary School  fourth graders were honored last week with the TD Bank Young Hero Award for successfully petitioning businesses and Pennsylvania to support a ban on plastic straws, writes Peter Crimmins of WHYY.

The fourth graders convinced the owner of Uno’s to ban plastic straws in his restaurant nationwide unless requested by a customer.

The class efforts also resulted in June 1 being declared Skip The Straw Day by an official state resolution.

The students were among young people around the region and country honored for good deeds at the annual event.

Other recipients were honored for heading up a mentoring program for kids with disabilities, a teen who creates flower arrangements for elder-care facilities from flowers left over from catering events and a Russian immigrant who overcame language barriers to win awards in public speaking.

A 17-year-old New Jersey teen received the President’s Scholarship and the Young Hero’s Award for starting a non-profit that encourages girls to explore STEM fields. For 19 years, the Liberty Museum ha

For 19 years, the Liberty Museum has honored young people with its Hero Awards.

Read more about the awards here.