Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954
(TRENTON) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today announced, for the second year in a row, students from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences (MATES) in Manahawkin were the winners of the New Jersey Envirothon, held Saturday May 7 at Camp Glen Gray in Mahwah.
The team, consisting of James Geddis of Jackson, Alex Hascha of Brick, Kelsey Lardiere of Manahawkin, Michelle Predi of Barnegat Light, and Ryan Sullivan of Lacey, will represent New Jersey in the 2011 Canon Envirothon at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada in July.
David Werner (Advisor), Ryan Sullivan, Alex Hascha, James Geddis, Michelle Predi, Kelsey Lardiere, and Adam Sprague (Advisor)
“Each team spent the school year preparing for the Envirothon by studying environmental, science and natural resources topics, so every student came away a winner with all the knowledge they gained leading up to and including the competition,” said Secretary Fisher. “We urge these bright, motivated students to continue this course of study and consider careers in agriculture and natural resources-related fields.”
Each of the MATES team members received $1,000 scholarships from the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts, $2,000 scholarships from Richard Stockton State College and $1,000 scholarships from Applied and Health Sciences at Kean University. Hascha, Predi, and Sullivan also were members of last year’s winning team.
The Envirothon is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, State Soil Conservation Committee; New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts; the 15 Soil Conservation Districts; United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.The 15 Soil Conservation Districts in New Jersey follow county boundaries and implement the New Jersey Soil and Sediment Control Act, which governs certain aspects of new development. These semi-autonomous bodies are locally governed and play a strong role in the protection of New Jersey’s natural resources.
List of Participating Schools
Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science, Manahawkin, 2 teams
Five Guys, Independent Middlesex County team
Princeton High School, 2 Teams
High Tech High School, Essex County, 2 teams, North Bergen
Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Monmouth County, 2 teams
Wayne Valley High School, Wayne
Kittatinny Regional High School, Newton
Watchung Hills Regional High School, Warren
Millville Senior High School, 2 teams
Bridgewater-Raritan High School
McNair Academic High, Jersey City
Delran High School
Middle Township High School, 2 teams
Somerville High School
Moorestown Friends School, 2 teams, Moorestown
Manalapan High School
Biotechnology High School, Freehold, 2 teams
Egg Harbor Township High School, 2 teams
Cedar Creek High School, 2 teams, Egg Harbor City
Montville Township High School
Kinnelon High School, 2 teams
New Providence High School
Triton Regional High School, 2 teams, Runnemede
Hillsborough High School
Clearview High School, 2 teams, Mullica Hill
