Last year, 7-year-old Lexi Houston taught toddlers about composting and promoted the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – in her school and community. Middle schooler Emma Brown, 14, organized plantings of trees and native species, grew organic produce in her school garden and worked on a school-wide awareness program on organic foods and nutrition. And 17-year-old Meagan Santangelo organized a household hazardous waste collection day in her community and collected more than 12,000 pounds including medical items, paint, flammable liquids, antifreeze and light bulbs.
For their innovative ideas, good stewardship and concern for the natural world, Lexi, Emma and Meagan were honored by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control as Delaware’s 2008 Young Environmentalists of the Year.
2009 Young Environmentalist Nomination Form
2008 Young Enviro winners and their environmental projects
If you know students like them who are putting their passions into projects that benefit our environment, you can nominate them for the 2009 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards.
Open to Delaware students in grades 1 through 12, this annual awards program seeks nominees whose actions have resulted in the protection, restoration or enhancement of our state’s natural resources. Projects must have been completed between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009, with nominations open from Friday, May 1 to Monday, June 1, 2009.
Anyone can nominate a deserving student – teachers, parents, classmates, club or group leaders – by filling out a nomination form and including letters, reports, photos or other documentation of the project.
Winners will be chosen in three categories: elementary grades 1-4, middle school grades 5-8 and high school grades 9-12, and each will receive a $100 U.S. savings bond and a gift certificate for a canoe, kayak or pontoon boat trip at one of Delaware’s State Parks. Winners also will be honored in a special ceremony on Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 30, at the 2009 Delaware State Fair in Harrington.
This is the 16th year for the awards program, which was established by DNREC colleagues and friends in honor of Dr. Edwin H. Clark II, who served as Secretary of DNREC from 1989 until 1993.
For more information, please contact Young Environmentalist Awards Coordinator Joanna Wilson in the DNREC Public Affairs Office at 302-739-9902, or by e-mail: joanna.wilson@state.de.us
