FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 25, 2006
Willow Lane School receives Champions of the Environment award
COLUMBIA – Willow Lane School of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia has received this month’s Champions of the Environment award for their study of water quality in natural habitats, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
Willow Lane teacher, Beverly McClanahan and media specialist, Ronnie Corn are fostering future stewards of South Carolina’s natural resources. They will receive $500 to continue the project “Vivariums of South Carolina.” A vivarium is a place or enclosure for keeping and raising living animals for observation or research.
“Research has shown that by the time girls reach middle school they often turn away from science-related subjects, which hurts the need of future environmental careers,” McClanahan said. “South Carolina needs to foster an appreciation for our state’s natural resources so future generations can enjoy the outdoors and remain close to nature.”
After McClanahan’s students studied water quality issues in different biomes, five living aquatic habitats were created. The students will continue to care for these vivariums while the habitats are on display in the school’s media center.
“We want students to understand that water quality, from the standpoint of maintaining the vivariums and in terms of clean water for the citizens of the state, is an important facet of this project,” McClanahan said.
Champions of the Environment encourages and rewards environmental stewardship in South Carolina’s kindergarten through 12th grade youth. In addition to the $500 cash prize, winning schools receive Champions of the Environment give-away items. A television commercial about the project will air on WIS-TV and winners are eligible to be selected as overall Champions of the Environment at the end of the school year. Applications for Champions of the Environment’s monthly award program are due at the end of each month, through March 2007.
Champions of the Environment is made possible through the support of International Paper, Eastman Chemical Company, WIS News 10 and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The program is in its 14th year of promoting environmental education by rewarding students and teachers in South Carolina for their efforts to improve and protect the environment.
For more information, visit the Champions’ Web site, www.scdhec.gov/champions, or call the coordinator, Lynne LaSalle, at (803) 898-4394.
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For more information:
Lynn LaSalle – (803) 898-4394
E-mail – lasallli@dhec.sc.gov
or
Adam Myrick – (803) 898-3884
E-mail – myrickar@dhec.sc.gov
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