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President's Environmental Youth Award Winners Announced

Release Date: 4/4/2000
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Two Albuquerque high school students who won the 1999 President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) will be recognized at the White House in a 10:00 am ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room in the Old Executive Building, April 12, 2000, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke announced today.

     The students, Valerie Kaye and Kate Widland of Albuquerque Academy, founded the New Mexico Environmental Youth Network to coordinate the efforts of high school environmental clubs throughout state. Network members include representatives from schools of every size from small communities and Pueblos through the state's largest public schools.  The seniors also started an Environmental Club at their own high school and coordinated the Third Annual Youth Conference on the Environment.

     "These dynamic young people are excellent examples of how each of us can make a difference.  Their commitment, enthusiasm and resourcefulness make me proud of today's young people," Cooke said.

     Kaye and Widland were sponsored by Jill Von Osten of Rio Rancho, General Chair of the Earth Day Coalition of New Mexico, and Lorie Barzano of Albuquerque, Communications Chair of the Earth Day Coalition of New Mexico.

     Three other student projects selected as Runners-up will be recognized during EPA Region 6's "Earth Day 2000" activities in Dallas April 19.  First Runner-up was "The Apollo Junior High Environmental Program" of Apollo Junior High in Richardson, Texas.

     Second Runner-up went to "The Tar Creek Project" submitted by the Cherokee Volunteer Society at Miami High School, Miami, Okla.  Third Runner-up was "The Re-naturalization of Snakey Lane Trail," an Eagle Scout project entered by Mike J. Jennings, Jr. of  Grapevine, Texas.

     EPA created PEYA in 1971 to encourage children in grades K-12 to become more active in protecting the environment. Annual competitions in each of EPA's 10 regions select winners for national recognition at the Washington, DC ceremony.

     For more information on the winning projects, projects from other EPA Regions, past winners, or how to compete for this prestigious award, call the Region 6 PEYA Coordinator, Mr. Pat Baker, Jr., at 800-887-6063.   Information is also available on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/students/awards.htm.