| Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission recently participated in the 29th Pennsylvania State Envirothon event that was held at the University of Pittsburgh’s Johnstown Campus on Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23. High school students from 62 Pennsylvania counties participated in this year’s event.
The Envirothon gives students the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate knowledge of environmental resources and their connection to each other and human activities. Students are challenged in the areas of aquatic ecology, forestry, soil and land use, wildlife and a current environmental issue. The Fish & Boat Commission provides resources and prizes, develops objectives and county and state tests. Agency staff and volunteers administer the Aquatic station at the sixty seven county events. Agency staff also administers the Aquatics Station and participates in the oral component at the state event.
The 2012 Pennsylvania State Envirothon champions were from MMI Preparatory School, Luzerne County. Team members included Anjni Patel, Rebecca Noga, David Polashenski, Brianna Nocchi, and Farrah Qadri. The team advisor was Michael Mele.
MMI Prep – MMI Preparatory School, Luzerne County took first place overall at the 2012 Pennsylvania Envirothon. Team members (in no particular order) included Anjni Patel, Rebecca Noga, David Polashenski, Brianna Nocchi, and Farrah Qadri. The team advisor was Michael Mele. Also pictured are Commission employees Mandy Smith, SW Regional Education Specialist; Kristi Niekamp, SW Environmental Interpretive Technician and Walt Dietz, NE Regional Outreach & Education Coordinator.
The team with the highest score at the Commission’s Aquatic Station was Penncrest High School from Delaware County. The Delaware County team won the station with a tie breaker over the Luzerne County team. Team members included Andrew Trolio, Clair Kaiden, Danielle Su, Abby Dunn, and Amanda Prokop. The team advisors were Mark Samilenko and Chrissa Kuntz.
The MMI Preparatory School team will go on to represent the Commonwealth at the Canon Envirothon event which is North America’s largest environmental education competition. Pennsylvania will be hosting the Canon 2012 event at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove from July 22 through 25.
Penncrest High School, Delaware County took first place in the Aquatics Station at the 2012 Pennsylvania Envirothon. Team members (in no particular order) included Andrew Trolio, Clair Kaiden, Danielle Su, Abby Dunn, and Amanda Prokop. The Penncrest team advisors were Mark Samilenko and Chrissa Kuntz. Also pictured are Commission employees Mandy Smith, SW Regional Education Specialist; Kristi Niekamp, SW Environmental Interpretive Technician and Walt Dietz, NE Regional Outreach & Education Coordinator.
More information about the Envirothon program can be found by visiting www.envirothonpa.org or www.envirothon.org. Information about the Commission’s involvement in the program can also be found on the Learning Center page at www.fishandboat.com.
Contact
Walt Dietz, Regional Outreach and Education Coordinator
570-477-2206
wdietz@pa.gov |
