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Pennsylvania Middle School Environmental Club Recognized for Environmental Excellence

Release Date: 4/19/2002
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA - The Huntingdon Area Middle School’s environmental club is one of 10 student groups nationally who received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2001 President's Environmental Youth Award. Huntingdon students were invited to join students from across the country for several days in Washington, D.C. to celebrate their achievements and to receive the Presidential award.

The award was presented Thursday, April 18 by President George W. Bush and EPA Administrator Christie Whitman in a Rose Garden Ceremony at the White House.

The Huntingdon environmental club members are Amy Slicker, Margo Wilson, Kaleigh Felisberto and Caitie Hanlon. Their interests were fostered by the schools’ environmental club, which helps students to learn about watershed ecology in an integrated, interdisciplinary program called STREAMS (Science Teams in Rural Environments for Aquatic Management Studies).

"This project shows the value of student participation in environmental protection. This award recognizes innovative students and the contribution they can make voluntarily by applying their ecological knowledge to resolve local environmental challenges," says Donald S. Welsh, EPA’s mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

The award-winning students focused on the water quality of Standing Stone Creek. The students sought to determine whether an environmental health issue exists that would prevent the stream from being Huntingdon's drinking water supply.

The students conducted a stream assessment at four sites on the creek. The assessment sites were the Alan Seeger Forest, Cunningham Bridge, Black's Bridge and Detwiler Field. It is a sparsely residential, rural, agricultural watershed with a 33-mile long cold water fishery. The students also worked with the local water treatment plant to understand their requirements.

The students’ study found that the water quality in Standing Stone Creek could be used as a source of drinking water for the community. The research results were accepted as part of Pa.’s Department of Environmental Protection statewide stream assessment.

Established in 1971, the President's Environmental Youth Award program encourages and supports young people's involvement in environmental issues. Annually, EPA selects one award winning student project from each of the ten EPA regions. Huntingdon students are this year’s award winners for the mid-Atlantic region which includes Pa., Md., Va., W. Va., Del., and D.C.

The award promotes local environmental awareness and positive community involvement. It is open to any student from kindergarten through grade 12. To request information on next year’s award, contact Betty Ringkamp at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region III
1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Tel: 215-814-5663
ringkamp.betty@epa.gov