Environmental Progress - Fall 2004

Governor's Green Youth Awards Recognizes Outstanding Environmental and Conservation Projects

Students in Chicago, carlyle, Pontiac and Waukegan honored this year

Outstanding environmental protection and conservation projects by young people in Chicago, Carlyle, Pontiac, and Waukegan, were recognized during the Governor's Green Youth Awards Ceremony in November.

"Governor Blajojevich and Illinois EPA are committed to encouraging and recognizing outstanding youth-led activities that set an example for making our environment cleaner and greener," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano.

The projects must have involved one or more of the following categories: waste reduction, reduction of pollution in the air, water or land; restoration or preservation of natural areas; and energy or water efficiency.

Youth 17 or younger, in kindergarten through 12th grade, enrolled in public, private or home school, and who participated in an environmental project begun no earlier than January 2002, were eligible to apply for recognition.

This was the third year for the awards program. This year's presentation was made during a luncheon at the Pasfield House, a historic home in Springfield, and was well attended, including by a busload of students from a winning class in Waukegan, as well as parents and teachers and other sponsors.

Winners for the 2004 Governor's Green Youth Awards sponsored by the Illinois EPA are:

Hyde Park Elementary School, Waukegan
Lake Michigan Jr. Science Corps.
Jean B. Schreiber, Sponsor

In the fall of the 2003-2004 school year the fifth grade students in Mrs. Elaine Asma's class at Hyde Park Elementary School in Waukegan decided to design a project that would enable each student to better understand the ecosystems that make up their schools environment on Yeoman Creek and Lake Michigan. The students divided into small groups to independently study amphibians, reptiles, plants, butterflies, and the community of the creek and lake.

Pontiac Township High School, Pontiac
Ecology Billboard
Paul Ritter, Sponsor

Pairs of students developed billboards to increase awareness and show ways to help save some aspect of the environment. Billboards were graded on message, color, neatness, ability to provoke thought, and originality. The group judged the billboards and the winner was displayed on Route 23 next to the Livingston County Landfill. Mr. Ritter's ecology class won a Green Youth Award in 2002 for their storm sewer-stenciling project.

Jerry Wang, Chicago
Killers in the Lake
Jie Wang, Sponsor

This project required samples of Myriphyllum spicatum and water from Lake Michigan as well as five common household items Ð motor oil, steel, detergent, acidic liquids, and alkaline liquids Ð and observing and testing the effects of these household pollutants on the lake weeds over a three-week period. Jerry won an Environmental Excellence Award, Outstanding Achievement Distinction, from the IEPA at the 2004 state science fair.

Nicholas Pruitt,
Carlyle
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, Reforestation
Tree ID & Education
Robin L. Pruitt, Sponsor

Nick planned a reforestation and education project for his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. In addition to planning the project, Nick had to plan a way to fund it. He held a memory Tree Sale from November 15 Ð December 15, 2002. Trees purchased were planted in memory or honor of someone. He contacted the Bond County Soil and Water Conservation District and they agreed to sell the trees at a discount. A total of 171 trees were sold for $5.00 and $10.00. The price included the tree, fertilizer, a location marker and free planting. In April, Nick solicited volunteers from his scout troop, Troop 225 from Breese, to help plant the trees. They were trained to plant the trees and were given a copy of planting instructions for reference. A coordinated planting calendar was made so all of the trees would be planted in one week. Nick and his mother sorted the trees and kept them moist until their planting dates. Nick was able to purchase 52 trees and the books for schools in Clinton and Bond counties.