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Earth Day: Environmental Service Award
Earth Day: Environmental Service Award
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is accepting nominations for two projects to receive the EGLE Environmental Service Award. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional environmental projects completed by one middle and one high school student, group, or class in grades 6-12.
Eligible projects demonstrate tangible results and benefits to Michigan’s environment, such as protecting the Great Lakes, restoring ecosystems, improving air or water quality, or conserving energy and resources. Projects can be completed by school or extracurricular groups, such as scouts or 4H clubs, between February 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025.
The following information will be collected in the nomination form:
- Nominee Info: Student Name(s), Grade(s), and Associated Group (if applicable--e.g., name of class, club, or team)
- Nominator Info: Name, Telephone Number, and Email Address
- Sponsoring School or Organization Info: Name and Address
- Project Description: details including the overall project goal, steps for accomplishing the project, project timeline, community involvement, and innovation and creativity.
- Project Impact: description of the project's impact on the environment including specific benefits or positive outcomes resulting from the project (e.g., data around reduced waste or energy use, trees planted, water conserved, etc.), educational opportunities to increase awareness around issues facing Michigan’s environment, and sustainability of project
- Supporting Documentation: attachments showcasing the students’ involvement in the project
Award nominations must be submitted online by March 15, 2025, 11:59PM EST.
Two projects will be awarded a cash prize and certificate of achievement, one in grades 6-8 and one in grades 9-12.
Winners will be notified by April 4, 2025. The winning projects will be posted on EGLE's Earth Day webpage during the week of Earth Day (April 22). Winning projects will also be honored at the MI Student Sustainability Summit, on May 20, 2025, and recipients are encouraged to attend.
If you have any questions, please email Samantha Lichtenwald at LichtenwaldS@Michigan.gov.
2024 Environmental Service Award Winners
Environmental Service Award - High School Winner
Yale High School's Aquaponics Project
Yale High School's Michigan Natural Science Students prioritize environmental stewardship through hands-on projects, including birdwatching and maple syrup production. A highlight is their year-long aquaponics unit, where they harness wastewater from the “Salmon in the Classroom” program to nourish hydroponic lettuce. Annually, students produce 100 pounds of lettuce for the school cafeteria. They apply their knowledge of the nitrogen cycle and hydroponics to design and build aquaponics devices, emphasizing cost-efficiency by maintaining and enhancing existing units. This initiative blends environmental care with education, benefiting the school with reduced lunch costs and locally sourced organic produce, while equipping students with sustainable and conservation skills.
Environmental Service Award - Middle School Winner
Upton Middle School's Environmental Club
In the 2023-24 school year, Upton Middle School's Environmental Club embarked on a mission to become a Michigan Green School. Their student-led initiatives focused on launching a composting program, establishing a native garden with a Monarch Waystation, and championing recycling and sustainability across the school. Promoting sustainable practices within the school but also fostering a sense of community involvement and environmental stewardship among students.
The club's efforts kicked off in Fall 2023 with support from grants obtained by their sponsoring teacher. Funding from the other donations enabled the purchase of composting supplies, gardening tools, and native plant seeds. Students even collected native seeds like black-eyed Susan, butterfly weed, and yarrow, which were stored and later planted in February 2024.
However, the club faced a challenge: the overwhelming popularity of their composting program led to an overflow of compostable materials. Undeterred, they collaborated with a local company that agreed to collect the excess compost weekly and return the nutrient-rich soil to the school in the spring.