Maryland Students among EPA’s 2021 President’s Student and Teacher Environmental Awards Winners

The following press release was published by the US EPA on Sept. 13. It is reproduced in full below.

Maryland Students among EPA’s 2021 President’s Student and Teacher Environmental Awards Winners

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 13, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored the Mid-Atlantic recipients of the 2021 Presidential Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) in a virtual ceremony on Microsoft Teams Thursday afternoon. Jeffrey Tong and David Balakirsky of Maryland were honored for their Bioma Project.

The Bioma Project is a youth environmental initiative established to promote environmental stewardship among future conservationists. Bioma has several environmental components one includes placing aquariums with local species of fish and plants in classrooms for students to observe. Even during the pandemic, the students raised funds, designed, built, and distributed mini aquariums to low-income students who had to study at home.

“The Bioma Project has aimed to explore novel approaches to environmental education since its founding in 2014, and we saw a great opportunity for such innovation during the pandemic,” said Philip Herdman, Assistant Principal of Crestwood Middle School, and teacher/mentor for the project. “The President’s Environmental Youth Award is the highest recognition we have received for the seven years of work by our volunteers, students, and teachers. We are sincerely grateful to the EPA for giving us this award and continuing to advance our shared mission—inspiring young environmentalists to build a better world.”

“The ingenuity displayed by these young people even in a pandemic gives us hope for our environmental future,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Acting Regional Administrator Diana Esher. Projects like this highlight the need for science in our classrooms and prepares the next generation to find solutions to many of our environmental challenges.”

The Bioma program is now present at 40 schools and encompasses 2,350 students. It is 100% youth-led and youth operated. Although Blakirsky is now a freshman at the University of Maryland College Park, he remains involved.

“I continue to work behind the scenes and involved in whatever way I can,” said Blakirsky. “I want to make sure future generations understand the importance of bio and how we can work to safeguard the planet.”

“I am honored to be recognized for our hard work,” said Tong. “It means a lot to see the impact on the student’s faces, but to be honored by the EPA, that’s especially special and drives us to continue doing the work.”

The PEYA was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1970 and recognizes outstanding community-level environmental projects by K-12 youth that promote awareness of natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. Each year, PEYA honors a variety of local projects developed by students, school classes, summer camp attendees and youth organizations to promote engagement in environmental stewardship and protection.

Thirty-two students who worked as a team or individually on 16 projects received the President’s Environmental Youth Award; 14 students received honorable mentions. Their stewardship projects, conducted in 2020, display a commitment to participating in creative sustainability efforts, restoring native habitats, and installing renewable energy projects.

In addition to the PEYA awards, the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) was given. This award was established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act and seeks to recognize, support, and bring public attention to the outstanding environmental projects performed by teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning in K-12 education. CEQ, in partnership with EPA, administers this award.

From across the country, 15 educators and 32 students were recognized for their leadership and commitment to environmental education and environmental stewardship.

Both students and teachers were honored in a virtual ceremony last month hosted by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

To read about the winning projects in detail, visit: www.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-youth-award-peya-winners and www.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators

Source: US EPA