EPA Seeks Applications for 2025 President’s Environmental Student and Teacher Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan announced that EPA’s Office of Environmental Education is requesting applications for the 2025 President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). The 1990 National Environmental Education Act established PEYA, which recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects from students in Grades K-12 that promote environmental awareness and encourage community involvement. The act also established PIAEE, which recognizes outstanding Grade K-12 educators who integrate environmental education and place-based learning into school curricula and school facility management across the country.
Our commitment to promote stewardship and safeguard the environment requires innovative climate action and dedication to environmental justice. At EPA, we seek to recognize the students and teachers whose work will have a lasting impact on their communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We look forward to celebrating these leaders whose contributions will serve as a source of hope and inspiration to many.”
The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in partnership with EPA, administers the PIAEE awards program.
“In the face of climate change, environmental education is critical to fostering tomorrow’s leaders who will advance innovative climate solutions and help protect our environment for generations to come,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “The Presidential awards recognize students and educators who are making inspiring strides promoting environmental awareness and encouraging community involvement across the country.”
Applications for both awards are due no later than Monday, January 15, 2025. Projects eligible for the awards can apply to a variety of environmental topics, including (but not limited to):
- Agricultural practices
- Climate change
- Environmental justice
- Food waste
- Lead in drinking water
- Recycling
- Sustainability
- Using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in environmental education
- Water infrastructure
- Water quality and/or litter within waterways
Additional Information on the 2025 Awards
For PEYA, EPA may select up to two winners in each of the agency’s 10 regions: one regional winner for Grades K-5 and one regional winner for Grades 6–12. Winning projects will be highlighted on EPA’s website. All student projects must be sponsored by at least one adult over the age of 21. If the sponsor is not a teacher, the project must have a teacher as a co-sponsor. Application and eligibility information is available on EPA’s PEYA page.
For PIAEE, up to two teachers from each of EPA’s 10 regions, each from different states, may be selected to receive the award. Teachers will receive a presidential plaque and an award of up to $2,500 to be used to further professional development in environmental education. The winners’ local education agencies will also receive awards of up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs. Winners will be highlighted on EPA’s website. Application and eligibility information is available on EPA’s PIAEE page.
For more information on the youth awards (PEYA), please email PEYA@epa.gov. For more information on the teacher awards (PIAEE), please email PIAEE@epa.gov.
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