MOHAWK - All school year long, Horizons Alternative High School students have been examining their actions, from what they throw in garbage cans to whether they unplugged computers when they were done using them.
For their work, the students earned the first Green School certificate awarded in the western Upper Peninsula from the non-profit organization Michigan Green Schools. Joan Chadde, K-12 Education & Outreach Program Coordinator for the Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics & Environmental Education, presented the certificate to the students Friday afternoon and told them they were role models.
"You're doing the kind of trailblazing that needs to be done today," she said. "You're on the cutting edge."
Chadde said the school's 51 students successfully completed 10 educational environmental activities to earn the designation. Tasks included maintaining an environmental news bulletin, conducting energy audits in homes and schools, recycling batteries and CDs and improving wildlife habitats by building bird houses. Although it wasn't required, Chadde said the students also composted, collected more than 300 pounds of garbage from roadsides, made an energy conservation tips brochure and started a school garden.
Student Jessica Lanyon said she enjoyed working on the projects.
"During the summer me and the other students went to the Fat Tire Festival and stood by the recycling bins and made sure everything went in the right bins," she said.
Lanyon said it was nice to earn the certificate.
"I think it's good and it looks good to the community and it shows we actually do stuff," she said. "I hope the other schools kind of see what we're doing and start participating, going green."
Classmate Ryan Harju described another green task the students do.
"Around the school when students are done using computers or leave the classroom, we make sure all the electronics, appliances are unplugged and the lights are off," he said.
Social studies teacher Brad Wickstrom served as the coordinator for the project and said he was proud of the students.
"For the students, it's a recognition of all the hard work they put into this project throughout the year," he said.
To earn the designation each year, the students must complete 10 activities again. Wickstrom said next year the students plan to do even more projects.
"We plan on trying to make this a yearly thing," he said.
Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani@mininggazette.com.
