Candor Retains Grip on Envirothon Title
Tioga County school wins state crown for sixth straight year; earns trip to California for Canon Envirothon.
Rachi Shah, Lake Ronkonkoma
Name: Rachi Shah
High School: Sachem High School
Hometown: Lake Ronkonkoma
Class Year: sophomore
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Forestry. The trees are different than what we have on Long Island, and the questions are harder because there is a time limit.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It is more competitive and there is a different focus, but the questions are about the same.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
It is really fun to spend the night with my friends, learn about Keuka, and get to walk around the campus.
What are your plans next year?
I will continue being active in school, and the Envirothon.
What is your dream job?
I want to be a pediatrician.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Economics and environment to be feasible and protect the planet. We have to make sure environmental protection is on the top of our list.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
I prefer tap water because it is safer and cleaner.
Favorites
Scientist: Richard Roberts
Book: My Sister’s Keeper
Song:none
Fruit or Vegetable: watermelon and tomatoes
Vacation Spot:Lake Tahoe
Movie: none
Quote: Dream more than others think possible.
Web Site:none
Garth Griffin, Chestertown
Name: Garth Griffin
High School: North Warren Central
Hometown: Chestertown
Class Year: junior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soils because the questions are too hard.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It is more difficult.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like that there is time to hang out with my friends.
What are your plans next year?
I will enjoy my senior year and apply to colleges.
What is your dream job?
Barcelona manager.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Car pollutants, and we need to invest in alternative fuel.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
Tap water because we have a great well in Chestertown.
Favorites
Scientist: Franz Xavier von Wulffen
Book: Blackhawk Down
Song:Gangsta’s Paradise
Fruit or Vegetable: Granny Smith apples and spinach
Vacation Spot: Adirondacks
Movie: Ghostbusters
Quote: Boom, paper towels.
Web Site: Google
Thomas Raminger, Binghamton
Name: Thomas Raminger
High School: Chenango Forks
Hometown: Binghamton
Class Year: senior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soils because no one likes learning it, and there is too much to learn. If you are off by even a little, you are wrong.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It is harder and more intense.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like the college feel, and there is more free time.
What are your plans next year?
I will attend Broome Community College.
What is your dream job?
I want to become a Department of Environmental Conservation officer in wildlife management.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Water pollution is an important environmental issue, and we need a way to maintain and create sources of fresh water.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
It depends on where you are, but in general, bottled water is always clean and tap water tastes better.
Favorites
Scientist: My teacher, Mr. Connors
Book: The Black Tattoo
Song:none
Fruit or Vegetable: pineapple and kiwi
Vacation Spot: Australia
Movie: none
Quote: Facebook ruins lives.
Web Site: Google
Angela Mathews, Hudson
Name: Angela Mathews
High School: Hudson High School
Hometown: Hudson
Class Year: senior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Forestry because there are too many things to identify and there was not enough time to answer the questions.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It is harder and there were many things we did not think about. We didn’t get to use some of the tools we used here.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like the nice setting on the lake.
What are your plans next year?
I will attend Russell Sage as a psychology major.
What is your dream job?
I want to be a psychiatrist.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
The depletion of the ozone layer is an important environmental issue. We have caused this damage ourselves for the sake of convenience. Planting trees would help combat the issue.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
I prefer tap water because it is free and there is no wasted plastic.
Favorites
Scientist: Charles Darwin
Book: Identical
Song:Let Your Love Grow Tall
Fruit or Vegetable: nectarine and broccoli
Vacation Spot: Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Movie: Fight Club
Quote: Stand where you land.
Web Site: blackel.com
Stephen Sammons, Burn Hills
Name: Stephen Sammons
High School: Burn Hills
Hometown: Burn Hills
Class Year: senior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soils and aquatics because there is too much memorization.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It is harder and more intense.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like the residence halls, and it is an open campus with good swimming.
What are your plans next year?
I will attend Cornell University as a biology major.
What is your dream job?
I want to be a doctor.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Climate change has the biggest impact on our world. We need to rely on more renewable resources, change our driving habits, and invest in fuel cell technology.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
I prefer tap water because it is free and there is no wasted plastic.
Favorites
Scientist: Robert Koch
Book: The French Lieutenant’s Woman
Song:Stacy’s Mom
Fruit or Vegetable: strawberries
Vacation Spot: I would like to visit Europe and the French Alps someday.
Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Quote: Last words are for those who have not said enough in life.
Web Site: facebook.com
Merrill Pine, Blue Mountain Lake
Name: Merrill Pine
High School: Indian Lake
Hometown: Blue Mountain Lake
Class Year: senior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
The oral presentation was hard for me because I get nervous speaking in front of people.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
This is a lot more serious.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I was able to see a residence hall, and see what a college campus looks like.
What are your plans next year?
I will be a pre-med major at Cornell University.
What is your dream job?
I want to be an emergency room doctor.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
The pollution from factories, which cause acid rain, is an important environmental issue. We need to place more caps on these emissions.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
Tap water tastes fine to me, and bottled water is a waste of resources.
Favorites
Scientist: Nikola Tesla
Book: My Sister’s Keeper
Song: Rain is a Good Thing
Fruit or Vegetable: kiwi
Vacation Spot: Outer Banks, N.C.
Movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy
Quote: You can’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt; you need to be able to throw something back.
Web Site: Google
Ricky Messmer, Albion
Name: Ricky Messmer
High School: Albion High School
Hometown: Albion
Class Year: senior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soils. It was too hard.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
The state level is much more difficult.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I really like the atmosphere.
What are your plans next year?
I will attend Paul Smiths College.
What is your dream job?
I would like to be an environmental conservation officer.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
The recent oil spill in the gulf. In the next 15 years, there will be a lot more technology which will help clean up spills like this faster.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
I prefer tap water because it uses less plastic.
Favorites
Scientist: Charles Darwin
Book: none
Song: none
Fruit or Vegetable: black cherries
Vacation Spot: Lake Placid
Movie: Grandma’s Boy
Quote: If you’re not first, you’re last
Web Site: Google
Nick Caster, Hinsdale
Name: Nick Caster
High School: Hinsdale High School
Hometown: Hinsdale
Class Year: senior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soils. It is just dirt and it all looks the same.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
This is much more difficult. We easily won our county competition, but it is much harder here.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like that I was able to stay in a residence hall.
What are your plans next year?
I will attend Monroe Community College for biology.
What is your dream job?
Manager for Lady Gaga
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
The oil spills, especially the current one in the Gulf of Mexico. We need to find alternative renewable fuels.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
It doesn’t matter to me.
Favorites
Scientist: “Dr.” Warren Schultz
Book: 13 Reasons Why
Song: Airplanes
Fruit or Vegetable: strawberries
Vacation Spot: Florida
Movie: Twilight
Quote: I wish there was popcorn.
Web Site: facebook.com
Nikki Aul, Sherman
Name: Nikki Aul
High School: Sherman Central School
Hometown: Sherman
Class Year: junior
Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soils was definitely a challenge.
How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It is more difficult.
What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like that there is more room and more people with whom to talk.
What are your plans next year?
I will take some AP classes, apply to colleges, and participate in the Envirothon again.
What is your dream job?
I’m not sure.
In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Global warming. We need to have less air pollution and fewer factories.
Water: Bottled or Tap? Why?
I like tap water because it uses less resources.
Favorites
Scientist: Albert Einstein
Book: Dear John
Song: Whistlin’ Dixie
Fruit or Vegetable: mangoes and carrots
Vacation Spot: none
Movie: Broken Bridges
Quote: Cowgirl up or sit in the truck
Web Site: Google
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