About Champions of the Environment
Champions of the Environment has been rewarding South Carolina’s kindergarten-twelfth-grade students and teachers since 1993. Support for the program comes from a federal agency, several DHEC environmental bureaus, and private businesses. Champions is partly funded through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. Section 319 aims to reduce polluted runoff and improve water quality. (Runoff happens when rain, irrigation water or melting snow flow over the land, washing pet waste, oil and fertilizers into the water.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives Section 319 funds to DHEC’s Bureau of Water. The Bureau then grants money to projects that help reduce runoff pollution, projects like Champions.
DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management and Bureau of Air Quality also help pay for Champions. Additional support comes from Eastman, International Paper, and WIS News 10.
Champions of the Environment Partnership
The Champions of the Environment Partnership consists of DHEC and the three businesses that help pay for the program.
The Partnership awards more than $10,000 to South Carolina students and teachers each year.
Partners are proud to encourage the state’s youth to protect and improve the natural world. They invite YOU to do your part. Take what you know - turn it into action - then apply to be a Champion of the Environment.
Links
Visit DHEC’s Environmental Education and Outreach Web page to find out about the environmental programs offered for teachers, industry, and the residents of our state.
To learn more about polluted runoff and Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, start with EPA’s Polluted Runoff Web site.
Champions is proudly supported by:
