Students from Cutter Morning Star High School were recognized with a state award recently for their work in protecting the environment with storm drain markers.
Four students and three adults attended the Governor's 2014 Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet in Bryant on Aug. 23. The Environmental And Spatial Technologies lab was recognized by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation at the banquet and presented with an award.
The plaque they received said the EAST lab received the award, "for educating Arkansas students in the importance of the environment and for affording them the opportunity to learn about it and make a difference."
"I think that it had become so much a part of them and what they do, they were surprised that there was another award out there for it," said Kathy Hopper.
Work on the project began two years ago when Hopper was looking for a community service project as part of her master's coursework through Miami University in Ohio. A component of the project was to involve the community to reduce reliance on government funding.
The project was a natural fit with EAST, which was in its first year at the school. EAST enables students to address real world problems in their communities. Hopper and Lisa Byrd, EAST facilitator, agreed to work with students on the project.
Hopper researched projects online and discovered the Hot Springs Stormwater Division. She discussed the project with Max Sestili, the city's stormwater manager, and Jessica Johnson, stormwater coordinator.
Hot Springs marks drains to inform citizens that stormwater, or rainwater, runoff is not filtered or treated prior to entering the nearest stream or lake. It is a step taken under the Environmental Protection Agency's Best Management Practices for stormwater management.
Students in EAST took on the project and created even more. They created presentations, posters, recruited volunteers and logged maps in the city's database. They left school for an hour twice each week to place markers. All of the students and their families volunteered even on weekends.
"We had the idea and wanted to do the project, but one person couldn't do it," Hopper said. "For the kids, it was their project."
"The kids figured out who the leaders were, they teamed up and they ran with it," Byrd said.
Hopper surveyed students as part of her master's coursework. She found that their attitudes and knowledge about conservation has improved during the year.
Only several hundred of the more than 5,000 drains in Hot Springs were marked when the project began in 2012. Each marker reads, "No Dumping -- Drains to Lake."
About 1,000 markers were placed during the 2012-2013 school year by Cutter Morning Star students. They earned an award at that year's EAST Conference and recognition from the mayor's office.
A researcher discovered a previous article in The Sentinel-Record about the school's work with drain markers. The Cutter Morning Star administration was notified during the summer about the banquet and the new award.
"I think it energized the project again," Hopper said.
Hopper and Principal Jonathan McAfee attended the banquet. Byrd was unable to attend, but her husband, Danny, attended in her place. Danny Byrd also volunteered in the project.
Three seniors who were original members of the team were able to attend the banquet: Sam Byrd, Blaine Horton, and Steven Love.
Senior Dusteen Sieck, who has taken leadership of the project through a service organization, also attended the banquet. Sieck is seeking more volunteer opportunities for students at the school.
"She went to a leadership conference and it was the best thing for her," Byrd said.
The project is ongoing. EAST students from Cutter Morning Star have marked nearly 2,000 drains.
Local on 09/01/2014