For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Rockland High School Students Win Award for Participating in Annual Envirothon

ROCKLAND — Principal Dr. John Harrison is pleased to announce that the Rockland High School Environmental Club received a Community Action and Community Research Award for outstanding participation in the Massachusetts Envirothon last month.

The RHS Environmental Club took part in the annual Massachusetts Envirothon for the third year in a row on May 18 at the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

Every year in May, the Massachusetts Envirothon competition tests teams from communities across the state on their knowledge about the environment and environmental issues.

Rockland was one of 27 high schools to compete, and demonstrated their knowledge about the environment based on research they had done throughout the year.

During the competition, the Rockland team was split up into sub-teams and rotated through four ecostations where they answered written questions and engaged in hands-on activities such as soil analysis, wildlife habitat assessment, tree identification and water quality measures.

At the fifth station, each school gave a 15-minute presentation on “Partnering with Nature in Watersheds” to a panel of judges comprised of professionals from government agencies, non-profit organizations, academia, and private industries. Each team researched this current issue in their own community and presented their findings and plan of action.

Rockland presented their data on the North and South River watershed. They assessed water infrastructure resources and needs, identified partnering opportunities, and made specific recommendations on how to improve the conditions of the watershed.

Massachusetts Envirothon awarded RHS the Community Action and Community Research Award based off their work with the Rockland board of selectmen and other town officials during their investigation of pollutants that flow into the watershed. The data the team provided will be used in Rockland’s annual EPA report.

“I am very proud of the hard work that our environmental club did throughout the year in preparation for the Envirothon,” said Principal Dr. Harrison. “This award is proof that their work is important and I encourage any student interested in this club to join, as I know they are already preparing for next year.”

The Rockland team was coached by RHS science teacher Angela Armstrong and included the following students: Jad Bendarkawi, Sean Fitzgerald, Tyler Gambon, Saoirse McNally, Ronan McNally, Joseph Naughton, Michelle Ramoska, Sean Sugrue, Zach Webb, and Hannah Wyllie.

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