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EPA Presents President's Environmental Youth Awards; Scotch Plains Student Honored

Release Date: 04/23/1998
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(#98036) New York, N.Y. -- High school students from the Union Catholic Environmental Club in Scotch Plains, New Jersey won top national honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA). The award recognizes young people who become an environmental force, individually or collectively, within their community. Every year, each of EPA's ten regional offices selects one winner. In addition, EPA Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island, selects three regional winners. This year, EPA Region 2 selected the Union Catholic Environmental Club as its national winner.

The Union Catholic Environmental Club made improvements to Scotch Plains' existing recycling program. Club members also taught others about the importance of recycling, controlling litter and nurturing plant and animal life. Union Catholic Environmental Club was one of ten winners selected from across the country.

"Children are the future stewards of our environment, so it is important that we recognize and encourage their efforts to make our world a cleaner and healthier place," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "If the youth of today show a fraction of the environmental initiative and ingenuity of these PEYA winners, then I know Mother Nature will be in good hands."

Students from Staten Island, New York; East Meadow, New York and Manati, Puerto Rico won regional PEYA honors and were recognized for their outstanding efforts to protect the environment. Each organization received a plaque, and each student received a certificate signed by President Clinton at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 environmental awards ceremony held today at the U.S. Court of International Trade in downtown Manhattan. The national winner from our area, the Union Catholic Environmental Club, accepted its award directly from EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner during a ceremony held March 26 in Washington, D.C.

For more information on the PEYA program, or to apply for a PEYA award in the future, please contact Cecilia Echols, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, at 212-637-3675.

For more information contact:
Mary Mears, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3669 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: mears.mary@epamail.epa.gov