WALLA WALLA - Congratulations to Walla Walla High School students Izzy Kirtley, Natalie Williams, Chloe Busch, Jakob Sullivan, Liam Bergevin and Turner Van Slyke for winning the Washington State Envirothon. The team will represent Washington state at the International Envirothon Competition in New Brunswick in July. Team Advisors are Andrea Renholds (parent volunteer) and Wa-Hi Science teacher. Clayton Hudiburg. Wa-Hi students competed against other regional winners from around Washington state on May 25. They were tested for both field and general knowledge in the areas of soils, wildlife, forestry and aquatic ecology. Each team also gave a 10-minute presentation on a current issue.
“Wa-Hi scored the highest in three of the five categories, which was enough to win the overall trophy,” said Hudiburg. “The opportunity these kids have is beyond words to describe, but I believe the best part of this whole experience is the reliance on teamwork throughout the entire process.”
Hudiburg said each student worked hard to learn about each of the categories, but they decided to "specialize" in just one or two. He notes this gave each of them a chance to shine throughout the competition.
“Andrea Renholds was also invaluable in her willingness to reach out to the community and arrange for a team of individuals to come in and lend their expertise during the weeks leading up to the competition,” said Hudiburg. “Representatives from Walla Walla Conservation District, Tri-State Steelheaders, Whitman College and McNary Wildlife Refuge all volunteered to help students prepare.”
The International Competition includes teams from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, China and Singapore. To learn more, check out the website here: https://envirothon.org/the-competition/current-competition/
Photo L-R: Walla Walla High School students Izzy Kirtley, Natalie Williams, Chloe Busch, Jakob Sullivan, Liam Bergevin, Turner Van Slyke
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