DOVER — The Charter School of Wilmington’s Team A was the winner of the 2022 Delaware Envirothon competition April 28, held at the St. Jones Reserve, announced the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts.

This win marks the school’s 20th in the event’s 27-year history, including a winning streak since 2002. The Peach Blossom 4-H Club came in second, while Odessa High School’s Future Farmers of America placed third.

“Ten teams of Delaware students were challenged to apply their environmental knowledge to plan and present inventive solutions to present-day environmental situations — and I would like (to) congratulate all of them for stepping up to the challenge,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “These students are today’s young environmental stewards, and I look forward to seeing them taking leadership roles to help ensure the future.”

This year, the Envirothon teams represented six high schools and one 4-H Club. Calvary Christian Academy, Charter School of Wilmington, Newark Charter School, Odessa High School FFA, Smyrna High School FFA, Sussex Tech High School FFA and Peach Blossom 4-H Club worked hard all school year to prepare.

Each team answered questions, reviewed specimens and took measurements in topics dealing with aquatic ecology, soils/land use, wildlife, forestry, air quality and the environmental issue of “Waste to Resources.” Teams also had to give a seven- to 10-minute oral presentation of a scenario based on that topic.

After more than three hours of testing, Charter School of Wilmington’s Team A was crowned the 2022 state champion. The team will represent Delaware at the 2022 North American National Conservation Foundation Envirothon at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in late July.

Each member of the winning team earned a $500 scholarship from the Delaware Envirothon and other prizes. The winning team will also receive a plaque for its school. The second- through seventh-place teams received more than $1,300 in awards and cash prizes. Further, cash awards for the top three teams in air quality, forestry and soils were provided by the DNREC Division of Air Quality, the Delaware Forestry Association and the Pocomoke chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

The results are as follows:

• First place — Charter School of Wilmington Team A, composed of Claire Andreasen, Meghna Raj Annasagaram, Erica Hong, Mukta Kantak, Tiffany Situ and alternate Rujula Brokar.
• Second place — Peach Blossom 4-H Club, composed of Brielle Carter, Aidan Garey, Brenna Geidel, Bethany Knutsen and Leighton Webb.
• Third place — Odessa High School FFA, composed of Kaelin Desrosiers, Natalie Holdren, Bruce Macolley, Taylor Mahoney and Ella Vandervort.
• Fourth place — Charter School of Wilmington Team C, composed of Rakshetha Balaji, Mikul Duggal, Arjan Kahlon, Khai McCaskill and Dharshini Senthilnathan.
• Fifth place — Charter School of Wilmington Team B, composed of Amogh Baradwaj, Siddhi Dinavahi, Pargya Singh, Michaela Somers and Joanna Tan.
• Sixth place — Newark Charter High School CliMates, composed of Samita Bomasamudram, Anna Gliwa, Amber Gray, Jared Murray and Benjamin Schultz.
• Seventh place — Calvary Christian Academy, composed of Dawson Shahan, John Thomas, Michelle Thomas, Elijah Washington and Kayleigh Young.

Since its inception, the Delaware Envirothon has awarded $62,500 in scholarships to 125 students. The event is hosted by DACD, a voluntary nonprofit that coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus on natural resource issues identified by Delaware’s three local districts. It is also sponsored by DNREC.

More information can be found here.