King County wants to honor the very best students, teachers, staff, school volunteers, programs and even entire schools that are contributing to environmental protection and student environmental education, through the County’s Earth Heroes at School awards program.
Nominations for the 2012 Earth Heroes at School are due Feb. 24. Winners will be honored at an event on April 26.
Recycling, restoring habitat, composting lunchroom waste, and growing pesticide-free gardens are among the many types of award-winning projects conducted by students, teachers and others in King County schools.
In acknowledging the accomplishments of environmental leaders in the school community, the Earth Heroes at School Program hopes to bring attention to their innovation, creativity and dedication and inspire others to adopt similar actions to protect the environment.
The program is offered through the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Solid Waste Division.
Earth Heroes at School honorees last year included:
• Jamie Cooke, a biology teacher at Mercer Island High School, who has been featured in Science Magazine and on National Public Radio for creating opportunities for teachers to work directly with scientists to engage students.
• Kate Brunette, an Issaquah High School student who gathered support from the City of Issaquah, the King County Green Schools Program, students, custodial staff, teachers and administration to increase recycling at her school.
• David Holbrook, head custodian at newly Creekside Elementary School in Sammamish, who started the recycling program on the first day of school, achieving an impressive recycling rate of 55 percent within the first month.
• Nancy Weil, a parent in the Mercer Island School District who started the Sustainability Committee at the Jewish Community Center, the Green Team at Lakeridge Elementary School, and the school district’s Green Team.
Earth Heroes can be nominated by colleagues, classmates and the general public. Self-nominations are also encouraged. Nomination forms are available at your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/education/earth-heroes.asp, or by calling Donna Miscolta, 206-296-4477.
