FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 19, 2012
DEP ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF FOURTH ANNUAL FLORIDA GREEN SCHOOL AWARDS
~Event recognized environmental excellence by Florida students, faculty and districts~
 Emily Moyer accepts the Florida Green School Award for the student category.
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Environmental Education announced the five state winners of the 2012 Florida Green School Awards. The Florida Green School Awards Program is a partnership between the Department, the Department of Education, Department of Health, Florida’s Foundation and the Sustainable Florida Program.
“I congratulate the winners of the Florida Green School Awards and the many applicants who shared their innovative ideas to create a greener Florida,” said Greg Ira, Office of Environmental Education Director. “These creative and insightful projects will not only conserve and protect our natural resources, but have resulted in more than $10 million in combined cost-savings for Florida’s schools.”
The winners for the 2012
Florida Green Schools Awards were:
The O.W.L Team of Pine
Jog Elementary in West Palm Beach
Hector Escobedo's class at TERRA Environmental in Miami
Wendy Doromal from Timber Creek High School in Orlando
Driftwood Middle School from Broward County
and the Duval County school district.
The five winners received an award of $1,500. All finalists received an award of $250.
In addition, Deborah Pate of A. K. Suter Elementary was named the winner of the second annual FPL Sustainable Circle Legacy Award for her continuous efforts towards green solutions and her regular appearance as a finalist in her category.
More than 42,000 students, teachers and administrators participated in this year’s green school initiatives, which generated $20 million in gross cost savings for Florida’s schools, almost doubling last year's $10.8 million. Initiatives included green service learning projects, using organic and sustainable energy sources, recycling programs and efforts to make school buildings and facilities more sustainable.
Florida Power and Light Company is this year’s signature sponsor for the Florida Green School Network, which encompasses the Florida Green School Awards Program. Supporting sponsors include Agriculture in the Classroom and Publix. All sponsorship funding goes to Florida’s Foundation.
Developed as part of the 2008 Energy and Economic Development Legislation, the Florida Green Schools Awards is an annual event that promotes and rewards conservation efforts by students, teachers and school administrators. Eligible projects demonstrate significant ways to save and conserve water, energy and reduce waste.
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