The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday presented the President’s Environmental Youth Award to May Wang from Bucks County and the President’s Innovations in Environmental Education Award to David Andrews of Butler County.
May Wang
15-year old May Wang was recognized for the experiments she conducted about removing a common contaminant from drinking water.
“Energetic students like May Wang and all the young people who competed for the PEYA awards have the enthusiasm to promote awareness of our nation’s environment,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Her water project demonstrates the kind of leadership needed to take on tough environmental challenges.”
Wang, a rising junior at Council Rock High School in Holland, experimented with using activated charcoal to remove Bisphenol A (BPA) from water supplies. BPA, which has been shown to cause reproductive and developmental effects in animal studies, is used in the manufacture of a wide range of consumer and industrial products.
From her experiments, Wang concluded that activated charcoal as a filter is effective for removal and is active for a number of times after the initial use.
In addition to the PEYA program, May’s research paper was accepted for presentation at the American Water Resource Association’s 50th Annual Water Resource Conference, and the Association for Environmental Health and Science Foundation’s 30th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy later this year.
Wang was one of 60 students nationwide to receive a PEYA award this year. The PEYA program is about promoting awareness of our nation's natural resources, encouraging positive community involvement, and recognizing students who can do these things and prove themselves to be outstanding young leaders in environmental stewardship.
David Andrews
David Andrews of Butler Junior High School in Butler with the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.
“David Andrews’ dedication to environmental education inspires students to promote sustainability in their school and their community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “He oversees several classroom projects that provide his students with a greater awareness of environmental issues and an appreciation of natural resources.”
Andrews, a general science, environmental science and chemistry teacher, was one of 17 teachers nationwide who received a PIAEE award.
Andrews raises brook trout with students through the “Trout in the Classroom” program and then releases the fish into streams to boost the local fish population. He also works with his students to conduct fish population and water quality surveys.
Andrews also oversees other classroom projects including tree-plantings, litter cleanups, coordinating paper recycling and providing opportunities for students to work with professional biologists. His work with local waterways encourages students to give back to their local communities and foster a sense of environmental stewardship.
