LA PLATA, Md. (June 17, 2011)—Student teams from three Charles County public schools were named winners in the Charles County Government’s “Going Green: What Does It Mean?” video contest. Mary B. Neal Elementary School was named the winner at the elementary school level. Piccowaxen Middle School earned the overall middle school spot and students at North Point High School are the winners at the high school level.
The video contest is part of the county’s efforts to increase awareness about green initiatives. Each team will be recognized at the Charles County 2011 Green Expo this Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Point High School. Each team receives a $200 prize and the middle and high school winners will also travel to NBC 4 studios in Washington, D.C., to watch the taping of a news segment.
The contest was open to all schools and students were asked to create videos that highlighted environmentally-friendly living and awareness, and what it meant for students to “live green” in their communities.
Students on the Neal team include fourth graders Shawntasia Bishop, Jessica Dlamini, Samantha Frias, Dean Kirby, Christina Marion, Alejandro Rodriguez and James Sayers. Team sponsors are Joseph Rubilotta, science teacher at Neal, and Brian Welfle, music teacher at Neal.
The team at Piccowaxen includes eighth graders Christain Barnes, Danielle Bowling, Brooke Dement, Blaine Hoffman, Demi Lewis, Nicole Lusk, Branden Nestor and Zachary Sinclair. Team sponsors are Teresa Jones, gifted education teacher, and Sandra Chisholm, computer teacher at Piccowaxen.
North Point’s winning team is comprised of juniors Troy Durham, Russ Milheim, Jessica Williams and Heather Yerecic, and seniors Darius Simmons and Beyshon Wigfall. Team sponsor is Ryan Bogart, a North Point English teacher.
“We sincerely congratulate the winners, and we thank all of the students who created videos for their hard work and continued environmental awareness efforts,” said Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly in a statement on behalf of the Charles County Board of Commissioners.
2011 sponsors of the Green Expo are: Chaney Enterprises, Saint Charles Communities, College of Southern Maryland, Meridian, SMECO, Southern Solutions, Waste Management, Coca-Cola, Elm Street Development, Chick-fil-A, Soleil Solar, Lowes, HazTrain, GenOn, Dillon’s Bus Service, PNC Bank, Charles County Technology Council, Golder Associates, Loiederman, Soltesz Associates, Quality Printers, LLC, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Rita’s Ice, Giant, and Heaven’s Garden, LLC.
All winning videos are posted on the Charles County Going Green Web site at
www.charlescounty.org/GREEN/.