NYS Envirothon 2009

Candor High School Wins New York State Envirothon For Fifth Straight Year

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:27:15 +0000

KEUKA PARK, N.Y.—Make it a five-peat for Candor High School.

The Tioga County school won the New York State Envirothon for the fifth straight year and sixth in the past seven today (May 28) at Keuka College.

Candor will represent the Empire State at the Canon Envirothon, which brings together the top teams from participating states and Canadian provinces. The 2009 event will be held Aug. 2-8 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Members of the winning team are Steve Trinidad, Randy Nedrow, Emily Nedrow, Cole Tucker, and Josh Huizinga. In addition to earning a trip to North Carolina, each member of Candor’s team will receive a $5,000 scholarship ($1,250 a year for four years) should they be accepted at and attend Keuka College.

Fifty-five of New York’s 62 counties were represented at the New York State Envirothon, where teams competed to solve problems in five areas: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils/land use, wildlife, and a current issue (“Biodiversity in a Changing World”). Each team was also required to deliver an oral presentation on the current issue.

Following are the top 10 finishers:

Candor High School (Tioga County).
G. Ray Bodley High School (Oswego).
Chaminade High School (Nassau).
Springfield Griffith Institute (Erie).
Parishville-Hopkinton School (St. Lawrence).
Sachem High School North (Suffolk).
Churchville-Chili High School (Monroe).
Oneonta High School (Otsego).
Chenango Forks High School (Broome).
OCM BOCES (Cortland).

In the oral presentation, Candor claimed first place, followed by Chaminade and Sachem North.

Judges also presented awards to the top scoring teams in the five environmental areas:

Aquatic Ecology: Skaneateles High School.
Forestry: G. Ray Bodley.
Soils/Land Use: Churchville-Chili.
Wildlife: Chaminade.
Current Issue: New Paltz High School (Ulster).

High-Resolution Photos

The following high-resolution are available for download. Clicking each link will bring you to the photo and appropriate caption, if available.

New Images Posted

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:49:39 +0000

More than 150 high resolution images are available for viewing and download.

Results of the competition, including captioned photos, will be available shortly.

Group Photos: All Groups

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:10:29 +0000

High-resolution photographs are now available for all groups that were competing today in the 2009 NYS Envirothon. For your convenience, photos have been organized alphabetically by county.

Matthew Wong of Bayside, N.Y.

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Name: Matthew Wong
High School: Benjamin N. Cardozo
Hometown: Bayside, N.Y.
Class Year: Senior

Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Forestry—so much goes into it, you have to know many tree species.

How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It’s a lot more in-depth, there’s more happening here in terms of the ecosystem than in the city.

What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
I like getting away from the city, and there’s a great view.

What are your plans next year?
I will major in history with a minor in environmental studies at SUNY Albany.

In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Urban sprawl and the population explosion. We need to protect what we enjoy so others will be able to enjoy it as well.

Download a High-Resolution Photo of Matthew

Katie Griggs of Alpine, N.Y.

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:52:49 +0000

Name: Katie Griggs
High School: Odessa-Montour
Hometown: Alpine, N.Y.
Class Year: Junior

Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Aquatics and Current Issues. Current Issues is really hard this year.

How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It’s stricter, there’s more regulations, and it’s harder.

What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
It’s given me a glimpse of what life is like at college. I’ve learned how much walking is required.

What are your plans next year?
This is my first year competing, but I plan to compete again next year. I hope to attend Cornell University—I’m planning a visit to the astrophysics lab.

In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
It’s not global warming. It’s due to climatic change over the centuries, but it’s not man made. I would say it’s water quality, and the pollution of fresh water supplies. We’re doing all we can to solve it, but we may need to use the water in the ice caps.

Download a High-Resolution Photo of Katie

Ashley Lam of Bayside, N.Y.

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:51:21 +0000

Name: Ashley Lam
High School: Benjamin N. Cardozo
Hometown: Bayside, N.Y.
Class Year: Junior

Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Forestry—it’s difficult to know all the species.

How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It’s a lot more challenging, and there’s a lot more to do.

What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
Getting away completely; this place is completely different than the city.

What are your plans next year?
I’ll continue to remain on the team. I plan on going to college after graduation, but I haven’t decided on a major.

In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
Over population is causing us to use all our resources. We need to try to limit the number of children each family has.

Download a High-Resolution Photo of Ashley

Devin Cobb of Clyde, N.Y.

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:50:19 +0000

Name: Devin Cobb
High School: Clyde-Savannah
Hometown: Clyde, N.Y.
Class Year: Junior

Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Aquatics — there are a lot of little bugs I don’t know.

How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It’s harder.

What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
The area. It’s calming.

What are your plans next year?
I’ll continue to stay on the Envirothon team. As far as college goes, I’d like to major in pre-med.

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 all need to be smart about it.

Download a High-Resolution Photo of Devin

Victoria Vanhoover of Clyde, N.Y.

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:49:12 +0000

Name: Victoria Vanhoover
High School: Clyde-Savannah
Hometown: Clyde, N.Y.
Class Year: Senior

Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Soil & Land Use

How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It’s a lot more difficult—much broader.

What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
The lake and meeting the people.

What are your plans next year?
I will major in Environmental Science at Paul Smith’s College

In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country, and what can your generation do about it?
The economic crisis vs. saving the wetlands and endangered species. People are uneducated, so they don’t care; we need to educate people and get them to care about the environment.

Download a High-Resolution Photo of Victoria

Group Photos, Set 2

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:39:09 +0000

High-resolution group photos are available for the following counties and high schools:

Additional group photos will be posted as students make their way to the photography station.

SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR STUDENT/ADVISER PROFILES OR SPECIAL ASSETS FOR A PARTICULAR COUNTY/SCHOOL/TEAM. PLEASE CONTACT DOUG LIPPINCOTT AT KEUKA COLLEGE — 585-746-6194 BEFORE NOON ON MAY 28.

Jacob Rabadi of Red Hook, N.Y.

Pete Bekisz — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:50:38 +0000

Name: Jacob Rabadi
High School: Red Hook High School
Hometown: Red Hook, N.Y.
Class Year: Senior

Of all the NYS Envirothon elements, which do you find most challenging and why?
Forestry.

How does this compare to the county-level competition?
It’s at a higher level and the tests are more organized.

What do you like best about competing on a college campus?
The interaction with the other students.

What are your plans next year?
I will major in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins

In your view, what is the most important environmental issue faced by our country?
Biodiversity. It’s becoming more well-known, but we have more to do.

Download a High-Resolution Photo of Jacob