North America's largest high school environmental education competition

Fifty-one teams of high school students from across the U.S. and Canada spent the week of July 18-24, 2005 in Springfield, Missouri participating in North America's largest high school environmental education competition. In addition to taking fourth in the overall competition, Texas tied for first place with Pennsylvania in the aquatics division.

The competition test teams on knowledge of soils/land use, forestry, aquatic ecology, wildlife and this year's current environmental issue of managing cultural landscapes (natural and cultural heritage are inextricably bound together and the conservation approach could benefit from more integration).  Teamwork, problem solving and oral presentation skills were evaluated as each team presented a plan to a panel of judges regarding their recommendations for solving the environmental challenge that was presented.

The John Cooper High School team from the Woodlands, Texas represented our state. Members of the team include: Melisa Pferdehirt, Thomas Comstock III, Joseph Rosenthal, Sannya Hede, and Tony Valderrama. Team advisors who accompanied the students were David and Tina Davies. The team was sponsored by the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District, and their travel expenses were paid by Eastman Corporation. Each team member received a $2000 scholarship from Canon USA to be used at a college of their choice.

Other top five winners include: 1st place - Pennsylvania, 2nd place -
Virginia, 3rd place - Delaware, and 5th place - Wisconsin.

Congratulations to the John Cooper High School team!!!