FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 13, 2006
West Ashley High School group commended by DHEC as Champions of the Environment
COLUMBIA – The WATER Wildcats group at West Ashley High School has been named a Champion of the Environment for its efforts to educate their community about wetlands and maintain greenspace around the campus, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
“The acronym WATER stands for West Ashley Team of Environmental Researchers,” said project coordinator Margaret Spigner. “With the increase in development around the campus, students became concerned about the quality of their educational environment.”
Spigner said the students will gain experience in environmental stewardship and decision- making as they move forward with plans to extend the nature trails around the campus and build an observation platform in the wetlands behind the school.
“The students want the schoolyard habitat to be available to other schools in the area so we can all learn more about important issues like long-term water quality testing and wildlife surveys,” Spigner said. “Recognition of their project by Champions of the Environment shows my students that working to improve and protect the environment is worth doing.”
Champions of the Environment is made possible through the support of International Paper, Eastman Chemical Company, WIS-TV and DHEC. The program is in its 14th year of promoting environmental education by rewarding students and teachers for their efforts to improve and protect South Carolina’s environment.
In addition to a $500 cash prize, winners receive Champions promotional items and their project is featured in a commercial on WIS-TV in Columbia.
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For more information:
Lynne LaSalle – (803) 898-4394
E-mail – lasallli@dhec.sc.gov
or
Adam Myrick – (803) 898-3884
E-mail – myrickar@dhec.sc.gov
MNR0096