Rosa International Middle School’s Climate and Sustainability Team (CAST) was among six student groups in the state recognized earlier this month for their New Jersey Student Climate Change Action Project in the NJ Student Climate Challenge.
The NJ Student Climate Challenge was held by Atlantic City Electric and its parent, Exelon; the Drumthwacket Foundation; and Sustainable Jersey. The team placed first in the middle-school division.
The projects offered innovative approaches to address climate change. Student teams from high schools and middle schools across the state were tasked with developing and executing a school- or community-based climate action project and creating a digital story video to capture it.
Student team winners and their teacher mentors were recognized on June 5 at an awards ceremony hosted by the Drumthwacket Foundation with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy in attendance.
“It is an honor to host and recognize the future leaders of our green economy at this year’s New Jersey Student Climate Challenge Action Project Awards,” said Murphy. “New Jersey is a proven leader in addressing our nation’s climate-change crisis, having been the first state to incorporate climate change education across our K-12 learning standards.”
The student climate awards for grades six through 12 are funded by Atlantic City Electric and Exelon and were created to foster the growing role young people play in addressing climate change. The initiative builds on New Jersey’s efforts to increase climate literacy among young people across the state, including its first-in-the-nation effort to incorporate climate change education in state academic standards.
“The creativity and innovation these students have put into their project submissions shows just how passionate our youth are about addressing the impacts of climate change and creating a cleaner environment for future generations,” noted Doug Mokoid, regional president for Atlantic City Electric.
“We created this program as a pathway for students to engage in climate education and have hands-on opportunities to make a change in their community right now,” he added. “The participants clearly demonstrated the bright future we have and should be applauded for their innovation and impact.”
Middle-school category winners are:
- · First Place: Climate Action and Sustainability (CAST) Team, Rosa International.
- · Second Place: Carbon Catchers Team from Howell Township Middle School South, Monmouth County
- · Third Place: Edson’s Engineers Team from Ocean Township Intermediate School, Ocean Township, Monmouth County
Winners were selected by a panel of judges that included educators and representatives from local nonprofits, state agencies and partner organizations. Winning schools received a grant to support climate-education initiatives.
The NJ Student Climate Challenge was open to New Jersey public schools with students in grades 6-12 across the state. Middle and high school students are encouraged to identify and complete a school or community project to address a cause or impact of climate change. The students then create a short digital story video to highlight what they accomplished. Students participate through their respective schools. There is no cost to schools or students to participate.
