Students from Celebration High School in Osceola County have placed first for the second year-in-a-row in the annual Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Regional Envirothon competition held February 8, 2018 at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando.
Larry Allen Schneck, chairman, Osceola County Soil and Water Conservation District, recognizes the winning team, called Eco Dude, from Celebration High School, Celebration, Florida, at the annual awards ceremony during the Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County Envirothon 2018 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, February 8, 2018. The 5-member winning team of sophomores and juniors was made up of Julian Landin, Matthew Eynan, Bradley Band, Spencer Schmidt, and Mason Theurer. Lori Thuesen, Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher at Celebration High School, has advised and trained local teams from Celebration for 13 years. This was the 11th year that her students have been named the winner of the competition.
The 5-member winning team of sophomores and juniors was made up of Julian Landin, Matthew Eynan, Bradley Band, Spencer Schmidt, and Mason Theurer.
Envirothon is a hands-on, natural resources educational program for high school students held nationwide, including in Central Florida.
A student tests a soil sample at the annual Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County Envirothon 2018 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, February 8, 2018. A total of 185 high school students rotated between five stations situated in areas around Leu Gardens. Each stop posed a different challenge in the topics of aquatics, soils, forestry, wildlife, and rangeland. Some of the activities included identifying soil types, recognizing non-native evasive plants, and answering multiple-choice questions.
During the field event, teams work together to answer written questions and conduct active-participation projects focusing on environmental issues.
Lori Thuesen has advised and trained local teams from Celebration High School for 13 years. This was the 11th year that her students have been named the winner of the competition.
“This team started studying and preparing to compete when they were just freshmen,” said Thuesen who teaches Advanced Placement Environmental Science at Celebration. “They are very competitive and were inspired by older siblings who won past Envirothons themselves. It was as simple as they wanted to beat an older brother or sister.”
One of the several sponsors of Envirothon is Toho Water Authority.
“We always love getting involved with these events,” said Mark Grayson, Toho Water Authority Public Information Office communications specialist. “You see the enthusiasm these young men and women have in the subjects of science and engineering.”
Dana Sussmann, senior forester, Florida Forest Service, Agriculture and Consumer Services, sets up the display for the forestry events table at the annual Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County Envirothon 2018 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, February 8, 2018. A total of 185 high school students rotated between five stations situated in areas around Leu Gardens. Each stop posed a different challenge in the topics of aquatics, soils, forestry, wildlife, and rangeland. Some of the activities included identifying soil types, recognizing non-native evasive plants, and answering multiple-choice questions.
Thirty-seven teams from 10 high schools in the three counties participated in this year’s competition.
“Many students have never seen the inside of a tree trunk or understand the negative impact of evasive, non-native trees on plant diversity,” said Dana Sussmann, senior forester, Florida Forest Service who works in four Central Florida counties from an office in Orange County.
A total of 185 high school students rotated between five stations situated in areas around Leu Gardens. Each stop posed a different challenge in the topics of aquatics, soils, forestry, wildlife, and rangeland. Some of the activities included identifying soil types, recognizing non-native evasive plants, and answering multiple-choice questions.
The high schools received study manuals and guides months in advance to allow preparation time.
Chuck O’Roarke, district conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, demonstrates to Al Leban, a Leu Gardens horticulturalist, the location of where he’ll evaluate students during the annual Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County Envirothon 2018 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, February 8, 2018. Students competed as 5-member teams. Awards recognized the top teams from each county and an overall winner.
The winner of the regional competition is eligible to send a team to the Florida state event and then represent Florida at the North American Envirothon in July, 2018 in Pocatello, Idaho.
“Engineers and scientists are our leaders of the future,” said Larry Allen Schneck, chairman of Osceola County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. “These young adults are going to show us new ways to solve current problems.”
The OSWCD Board of Supervisors meets in the University of Florida Extension Services Office at Osceola Heritage Park. Meeting notices and information about its work is available at www.osceolaswcd.org or call (407) 847-4465 Extension 3.