Lisa Russo & Theresa
Sparkes Win
2004 Gene Rosenfield Preserve Our Environment Leadership Award
Lisa Russo, of
Lakeland Regional High School, was selected as the winner of this
year's scholarship award. Lisa
has taken a number of environmental courses at Lakeland,
and is an avid hiker and camper. She is
particularly concerned with the sprawl that is taking place in the Highlands. For her Junior year research
project, Lisa
wrote a paper detailing the problem of urban sprawl and the measures
being
taken on local, state, regional and national levels. She also put
together a PowerPoint
presentation focusing on keeping our area green, surprising her
classmates with
the natural treasures that are located in their backyard.
Theresa Sparkes was chosen as the winner of the scholarship from West
Milford. Theresa was very active in the high school's Environmental
Club this past year. She organized a fundraiser selling hemp necklaces
she and other students made and went with the club to the West Brook
School to teach second graders about pollution and recycling.
Theresa is involved with groups such as the Sierra Club and PETA, and
has made a conscience effort to make simple changes in her lifestyle to
benefit the environment, such as recycling, conserving water, reusing
her waterbottles, and adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.
Both girls were awarded with a $250
US Savings Bond. We would like to congratulate Lisa and Theresa
and we wish them luck in their future endeavors!
Heather McKeon & Caitlin
Schopp Win
2003 Gene Rosenfield Preserve Our Environment Leadership Award
Heather
McKeon was chosen as the winner of the scholarship from Lakeland High
School. Heather has taken a number of environmental courses at
Lakeland, and is a frequent visitor of Ringwood State Park to run,
hike, and bike. She has also expressed concern about the MTBE that has
leaked from the Mobil station into a number of Ringwood residents'
wells.
Caitlin
Schopp was the winner of the scholarship from West Milford High School.
Caitlin has shown particular intiative and leadership toward the
protection of West Milford's natural beauty. She created a "Friendship
Garden" at Bubbling Springs Recreation Area, involving many members of
the community, and has participated in West Milford's Beautification
Day numerous times.
Both
girls were awarded with a $250 savings bond. Skylands CLEAN would like
to congratulate Heather and Caitlin, and we wish them luck with their
future endeavors.
Lauren Ruehl & Sara Merando Win
2002 Gene Rosenfield Preserve Our Environment Leadership Award
Lauren Ruehl, a senior at West Milford High School was selected. Lauren
is President of the West Milford High’s environmental club, as well as
a former Vice-President. Her interest in the environment includes a
concern about pollution of local lakes, and maintaining their beauty.
Lauren has been involved in several projects in her high school,
including the construction of an outdoor classroom, and the planting
and maintenance of trees and flowers around the school. Lauren also
made recycling bins for all the classrooms in the school, and organized
fund raisers to purchase plants and flowers for the school.
Lauren hopes to continue her interest in the environment by joining
environmental clubs in college.
Sara Merando was chosen as the winner from Lakeland Regional High
School in Wanaque. A Ringwood resident, Sara is a senior who has been
involved with development of the Help Our Mother Earth (H.O.M.E.) club
at the school.
Sara’s interests include recycling and reducing the amount of items
headed for landfills generated at school. Sara conserved paper by
reusing paper that other students discarded, and collected used paper
from the copy room for her use as well. Sara was able to collect so
much paper that she has not had to purchase a notebook since her
freshman year. Sara’s commitment to the environment extends to her home
life as well, where she had reduced her parents electric bill by half
since she started consistently turning off all electrical items in the
house when not in use.
Sara took several biology and earth science courses during her time at
Lakeland, expanding her knowledge on the environment as well. Sara
feels strongly about her commitment to the environment, planning to
continue throughout college and beyond.
Both Lauren and Sara received $250 savings bonds in separate awards
ceremonies held at their respective schools in June. We congratulate
both Sara and Lauren on their award.
