Granville High School Team wins the 2009 Ohio Envirothon!

Granville High School Students Win 2009 Ohio Envirothon
Beavercreek High School team finishes second, Chardon High School places third

COLUMBUS, OH - A team of Granville High School students placed first in the 2009 Ohio Envirothon, held at Kenyon College in Knox County on June 7-9, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). This year marked Ohio's 21st annual Envirothon competition.

Twenty teams from 18 Ohio high schools participated in this year's outdoor competition, which tested students' knowledge of soils and land use, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues.

First prize was a check for $300 and registration as Ohio's representative to the North American Canon Envirothon, set for August 2-8 at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. There, students will compete for more than $107,000 in academic scholarships and prizes. Students from 53 states and provinces are expected to participate.

The Beavercreek High School team from Greene County finished second in the competition, taking home a check for $200. A team from Chardon High School in Geauga County placed third and received a check for $100. Each of the teams also received a plaque to display at their school.

ODNR's Division of Soil & Water Conservation and the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts sponsor the annual event.

Each participating team earned the opportunity to compete at the state level by placing among the top four teams in five regional Envirothons that were held in April and May. In all, over 300 teams competed for a chance to attend the state event.

Competition questions were prepared by professionals from ODNR, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kenyon College, Muskingum Valley Park District, Helser Woodland Management and the Columbus Zoo.

High scores in the individual contest components were:

Soils/Land Use - Granville High School
Aquatic Ecology - Chardon Team Red; Fort Jennings Team 1 (tie)
Wildlife - Mid-East Career Center
Current Environmental Issue - Beavercreek High School
Forestry - Granville High School; Chardon Team Red (tie)
Oral Presentation - Athens High School
United High School from Columbiana County was honored for scoring highest of all the participating "rookie" teams.

The Ohio Envirothon is funded by donations from individuals, soil and water conservation districts, local businesses, agencies and organizations. Donors for the 2009 Ohio Envirothon included American Electric Power, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education Fund, the ODNR Divisions of Wildlife and Forestry, Pheasants Forever, the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts and Canon Envirothon.

OFSWCD sponsors awards at the 61st Annual Science Day

The 61st annual State Science Day was held on May 9, 2009 at the Ohio State University in Columbus. Over 1,000 7th - 12th grade science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students representing nearly 300 schools across Ohio exhibited their science research projects at the event which honors students with nearly 100 scholarships and awards valued at more than $2.5 million.

Among the many awards distributed at State Science Day was the Soil and Water Conservation Award sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

1st Place Award Winner - 10-12 grade level - "How Does Environmental Pollution Affect Daphnia's Heart Rate?" -Traven W. Towns

2nd Place Award Winner - 10-12 grade level - "Drought Effects on Macroinvertebrate Populations in Massie Run Creek" - Rowan L. Baird

1st Place Award Winner - 7-9 grade level - "Do Green Roofs Reduce Water Runoff and What Affect Do Green Roofs Have on Rooftop Temperature?" - Mary L. Murray

2nd Place Award Winner - 7-9 grade level - "The Effect of Water Run-off, Containing Insecticide, on Daphnia Populations" - Trevor C. Chopko