FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2008
Two Midlands schools named Champions of the Environment
COLUMBIA – Heathwood Hall’s Intermediate School and New Directions School have each won a $500 grant from Champions of the Environment, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
“Students at both schools are working on projects that seek to improve the environment using native vegetation,” said Lynne LaSalle, coordinator for Champions of the Environment.
According to LaSalle, the “Native Tree Alley” project at Heathwood Hall involves fifth graders who are learning about ecosystems. They have researched different trees and have chosen to plant two kinds of native oak to benefit the local environment. Students will also educate the school community about trees and their cooling effect, the removal of air pollutants and the reduction of runoff pollutants.
LaSalle said in the “Working Together for a Better Tomorrow” project, students at New Directions School are working to create a wildlife-friendly habitat on their campus located in a rapidly developing area of Richland County. Science classes compost, grow plants, and landscape the courtyard garden using native plants. Students have asked the New Directions administration to not mow an area near a campus pond to provide better habitat for local wildlife.
Each of these Champions of the Environment will receive a $500 cash award to use toward their project. The schools will also receive Champions give away items and a commercial about their project will be aired on WIS-TV, Columbia and WCSC-TV, Charleston.
For more than 15 years, Champions of the Environment has rewarded environmental awareness and action in South Carolina’s kindergarten through 12th grade students. Champions is sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company, International Paper, WCSC-TV, WIS-TV and DHEC. The Champions partnership awards ten grants over two grant cycles. Applications for Champions’ next round of grants are due Jan. 15, 2009.
For more information, visit the Champions Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/champions, or call LaSalle at (803) 898-4394.
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For more information:
Adam Myrick – (803) 898-3884
E-mail – myrickar@dhec.sc.gov
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