Team heads to Canada next week for international contest
For the second year in a row, Enloe Magnet High School’s “Subchronic Exposure” team took home the championship title at the 2023 North Carolina Envirothon, a statewide academic environmental science competition. Next week team captain Felicia Yan, Veronica Cheaz, Disha Hosapattana, Jackson Steene, and Feehan Tuttell, led by their experienced advisor Chad Ogren, will head to Canada to represent Wake County and North Carolina in the international competition. They are the only high school in the state to advance to the international Envirothon six times.
“We’re incredibly proud of these students and will be cheering for them as they show the world how much Wake County values our environment,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. “The mission of Envirothon is to develop knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who understand the importance of maintaining a balance between growth, quality of life and natural resources. The students have once again proven that our future is in good hands.”
Last year, the Subchronic Exposure team secured 5th place at the international Envirothon competition, earning an impressive 586.67 points out of a total of 600 and a $2,000 college scholarship. This year’s contest runs from July 23-29 at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada and will have the team testing their knowledge of forestry, wildlife, soils, land use, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. They have the chance to win thousands in scholarships and awards.
“This summer’s 2023 National Conservation Foundation Envirothon will put our Subchronic Exposure team against the top teams from all 50 U.S. states, Canada and China,” said Teresa Furr, Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Director. “They performed incredibly as they defended their state championship title in Burlington, NC earlier this year and we know they’ve been studying hard this summer and will make Wake County proud in Canada!”
The team’s all-expenses paid trip is sponsored by the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. The North Carolina Envirothon is coordinated through the NC Envirothon state committee, NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation, the state’s 96 local soil & water conservation districts and the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
The Enloe High School team hasn’t been the only team impressing us with their environmental expertise. The Mean Green Beans team from Panther Creek High School in Cary took home 2nd place, top score medallions and $150 at the state competition, going up against 44 other high schools from across the state.
Envirothon teams across North Carolina are sponsored by their local Soil and Water Conservation District. Wake County teams are sponsored by the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. To sponsor or form a Wake County middle school or high school Envirothon team for the next school year, contact Conservation Specialist Winifred Dorer at 919-250-1095 or winifred.dorer@wake.gov.
