Luzerne County High School Wins 2012 PA State Envirothon
MMI Preparatory School located in Luzerne County was the winner of the 2012 PA State Envirothon held at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on May 22 and 23. The school scored 537 points of a possible 600.
Rounding out the top 10 winners' spots were:
-- Second Place – Penncrest High School, Delaware County, with a score of 535;
-- Third Place – Homeschoolers, York County, with a score of 527;
-- Fourth Place – Blue Mountain High School, Schuylkill County, with a score of 520.6;
-- Fifth Place – Carmichaels Area High School, Greene County, with a score of 497.3;
-- Sixth Place – Bald Eagle Area High School, Centre County, with a score of 486.6;
-- Seventh Place – United Jr. Sr. High School, Indiana County, with a score of 444.3;
-- Eighth Place – Northern Cambria County High School, Cambria County, with a score of 442.6;
-- Ninth Place – Eastern Lebanon County High School, Lebanon County, with a score of 441.6; and
-- Tenth Place – Downingtown East High School, Chester County, with a score of 438.
The Pennsylvania Envirothon awarded scholarships to the first, second, and third place teams. The scholarships were sponsored by EXCO Resources (PA), PPL Corporation and Pennsylvania Envirothon. Each of the top ten teams received a plaque and other prizes.
High school students from 62 Pennsylvania counties participated in this year’s event.
At the Envirothon, five-member teams participate in a series of field-oriented tests that focus on five topic areas – soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and environmental issues. The 2012 current environmental issue focused on Nonpoint Source Pollution and Low Impact Technology.
The teams also prepare and deliver oral presentations to panels of judges who evaluate each team on its problem-solving capabilities, oral presentation skills and recommendations to help solve the specific environmental challenge, which relates to the current environmental issue.
Teams participating represent the best and the brightest of the thousands of high school teens who have competed in county Envirothon competitions sponsored by conservation districts across the state.
At the state level, the Envirothon is sponsored by Pennsylvania’s sixty-six conservation districts, the State Conservation Commission and the PA Association of Conservation Districts.
The program is managed by a board of directors representing those sponsors. Technical expertise is provided by the following agency partners: Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission and the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Sponsors of the 2012 Envirothon are EXCO Resources (PA), The Hershey Company, American Honda Foundation, PPL Corporation, Air Products Foundation, Bayer HealthCare, Canon Envirothon, PA Trappers Association, PA Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, State Conservation Commission and the PA Growing Greener Program.
The Hershey Company, Dwight Lewis Lumber, Lewis Lumber Products and Cargill are “Corporate Station Sponsors.”
The 2021 PA Envirothon champions will represent the Commonwealth at the 25th Canon Envirothon North American competition planned for July 22 – 27 at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania has won the North American event in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2009.
More than 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, and one Canadian territory have initiated Envirothon contests based on the program that was originally developed by Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.
For more information, visit the PA Envirothon website program, contact your county conservation district or contact the Pennsylvania Envirothon by phone 814-623-7900 ext. 111 or send email to: paenvirothon@pennswoods.net.