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McKinney middle school one of eight winners nationwide in Eco Challenge
Staff report
The Evans Middle School "Green Our School" team claimed $15,000 in scholarships and grants as a first-place winner in the 2012-13 Lexus Eco Challenge.
The educational program and contest inspires and empowers young people to learn about the environment and take action to improve it.
Evans was the only Texas school among eight winners nationwide. Its student team consisted of Crystal Chavira, Avery Hall, Sarah Kerr, Ethan Maliskas, Johnny Millar and Reed Waterman. They advanced from a second-round winner to first place by expanding and enhancing their original project started earlier this year.
After winning the preliminary round of the Lexus Eco Challenge, the team broadened its scope outside the school to address issues of energy waste and renewable technology for the McKinney ISD and surrounding community. The team's goal was to do something that would leave a social imprint on their community for years to come.
The Evans team worked with the MISD Board of Trustees to pass policy requiring each of the district's 33 campuses to develop specific energy use reduction goals via "Half-Watt Wednesdays" and "Watt Watcher" teams. Each school is also required to host discussions with custodial staff to reduce after-school energy waste.
The Evans team created a website for the challenge with integrated curriculum in English and Spanish, as well as the same features that can be found on their app.
For each of the Lexus Eco Challenges, teams are required to define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report the results.
Evans Middle School won $15,000, with $3,000 for the school to go toward the Pavegen Energy Tile Installation; $2,000 for the teacher advisor, Kimberly Church; and $10,000 in scholarships for the students.
"The Lexus Eco Challenge encourages teens to start local and then go global. All of the winning teams brought their ideas to a larger audience to make a positive impact in the world," said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "Through this program, nearly 30,000 participants have learned that their passion and commitment can make a difference in the world. It's a lesson they can take with them the rest of their lives."
Star Local News has covered the Evans team's ongoing energy saving mission and ensuing districtwide policy changes. For past reports, visit http://www.scntx.com/articles/2013/02/22/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/8362.txt and http://www.planostar.com/articles/2013/01/18/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/8808.txt.
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