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Cairo High School Science Club & Biology Students' Environmental Outreach Program receives Presidential Environmental Youth Award

Release Date: 04/22/2005
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The science club and biology students of Cairo High School in Cairo, Ga., were recognized in a White House ceremony with President Bush for their achievements in environmental protection on April 21, 2005. 

The 2004 Presidential Environmental Youth Awards were presented to 30 students at the ceremony. 

The Cairo High School Science Club was formed three years ago and has grown from an initial membership of 10 students in 2001-2002 to 70 students in 2003-2004.   The club was recognized for three activities accomplished over the past year.

The first activity involved an after-school program for all biology students at the high school level.  The club invited Sandy Beck from the St. Francis Wildlife Refuge in Tallahassee, Florida, to speak about how animals are adapted to their environments and the various measures people should take to protect them. 

The second activity was prompted by a newspaper article concerning the local landfill, which at the current rate of dumping, will be full in 9 years.

The third activity was also prompted by an article in the local paper concerning water quality.  The headlines of the local newspaper had been full of statements implying that the water quality of the Ochlockonee River is being degraded by Cairo’s faulty wastewater treatment facility, which was subsequently degrading the water quality of Lake Talquin in Tallahassee.

This past year, the club has made tremendous efforts to educate the faculty, student body, and the community about local environmental issues.  By participating in these types of activities, they will be better decision-makers for the future, helping to ensure the health of our environment. 

The President’s Environmental Youth Awards Program encourages individuals, school classes, schools, summer camps, public interest groups, and youth organizations to promote local environmental awareness and to channel this awareness into positive community involvement.  The program is open to all students from kindergarten through the 12^th grade.

More information on the PEYA Program, as well as a listing of the 2004 award winners and their project descriptions, is available at: https://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya2004.html#top.

-0- April 22, 2005

CONTACT: Kathy Armstrong, EPA Public Affairs Specialist, (404) 562-8225