COLUMBUS, OH - A team of Athens High School students placed first in the 2004 Ohio Envirothon, held at Marietta College June 13-15, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Nineteen teams from 18 Ohio high schools participated in this year's outdoor competition, which tested students' knowledge of soils and land use, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues.
First prize was a check for $300 and a chance to represent Ohio at the international Canon Envirothon, set for July 26-August 1 at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Each student on the winning team also received a $1,000 scholarship to The Ohio State University School of Natural Resources.
The Logan High School "Gold Team" from Hocking County finished second in the competition, taking home a check for $200. The Piketon High School team from Pike County placed third, winning a check for $100 in the process. A team from Waynedale High School in Wayne County took honors as the high scoring "rookie" team. Each school received a plaque commemorating its winning performance.
ODNR's Division of Soil & Water Conservation and the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts sponsor the annual event. Each participating team earned the opportunity to complete at the state level by placing among the top four in five regional Envirothons that were held in April and May.
Each year, the Envirothon focuses on a specific environmental issue. This year's topic centered on natural resource management in the urban environment. In addition to the field testing component, each team prepared a five-minute oral presentation, which was delivered to a panel of experts.
Competition questions were prepared by professionals from ODNR, Marietta College, Washington State Community College, The Ohio State University Extension, Wayne National Forest and soil and water conservation districts in Muskingum, Licking and Washington counties. The Ohio Envirothon is funded by donations from individuals, soil and water conservation districts, local businesses, agencies and organizations.
Donors for the 2004 Ohio Envirothon included American Electric Power, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education Fund, the ODNR Division of Wildlife, Mead Westvaco, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Pheasants Forever, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the Ohio Wetlands Foundation and American Express Financial Advisors, Inc.