 TO VIEW PHOTOS, CLICK HERE.
The PRIDE Campus of the Year Awards were announced during two PRIDE Envi Youth Conferences, which were attended by a total of 3,000 students.
In the East Division of PRIDE’s 38 counties, the Campus of the Year Award winners were Highland-Turner Elementary School (Breathitt County), Paintsville Middle School and Owsley County High School. These awards were presented at the conference held at the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville on Oct. 29.
In the West Division, the Campus of the Year Award winners were Manchester Elementary School, Corbin Middle School and South Laurel High School. The West Division awards were announced during the conference at the Arena in Corbin on Oct. 30.
Each school won a trophy and $1,000 to grow plants in the school greenhouse to transplant throughout the community. The annual PRIDE Campus of the Year Awards honor elementary, middle and high schools for environmental education programs that incorporate hands-on learning, are tied to state curriculum guidelines, and show creativity and community involvement.
Regina Donour, a teacher at Letcher County Central High School won the PRIDE Environmental Educator of the Year Award in the East Division. In the West Division, Cindy Ham, a teacher at Somerset High School, was the winner. This award, which was new this year, recognizes the dedicated individuals who are inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards.
“Students and teachers, you are a source of great pride to your community and our entire region,” said PRIDE’s Karen Engle. “Your love for learning, the environment and your community are a winning combination. You are on track for great accomplishments. Your recognition here today is just the beginning.”
The high-energy PRIDE Envi Youth Conferences featured motivational speakers who take personal responsibility for the environment and serving the community. They challenged the students to live up to their potential and make a difference. The events, including lunch, were free, and PRIDE will reimburse schools for transportation costs.
“Today I saw kids having a blast one minute and looking thoughtful the next minute,” Engle said. “With the theme of ‘PRIDE Needs YOUth,’ our goal was to get students excited about their power to make a difference in their hometown and world. Judging by the looks on their faces, they got that message.”
PRIDE is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental cleanup and education efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky.
### |
