Harding, Larmore
Kutcher & Kozal, LLP
By Lookout Staff
June 2, 2015 -- Three Santa Monica High School students took the top prizes in a local poster contest to encourage water conservation, District officials announced Monday.
Advanced Placement Environmental Science students Valerie Young, Yanjun Li and Anastasia Khromova were awarded grand prize, second place and honorable mention for creating posters that addressed this year's theme, “Do More to Use Less,” officials said.
Contestants in the 7th annual Sustainable Santa Monica Student Poster Contest were judged for their “excellent artistic expression, creativity and interpretation of this year’s theme,” officials said.
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| Santa Monica High School AP Environmental Science students were recognized at an awards banquet May 27 for receiving first, second and third place at the 7th annual Sustainable Santa Monica Student Poster Contest. (Photo provided by Selina Ayala-Patlan of VMA Communications, Inc.) |
The posters addressed the question, “How can you raise awareness about the drought and cut back water use by 20 percent?”
“Our students want to make the world a better place, and they recognize how effective grassroots advocacy can be to affect positive change,” Superintendent Sandra Lyon said.
“They are committed to advocating for a greener, more sustainable world by spreading knowledge to their peers through diverse science and art projects,” Lyon added.
The winning students were recognized at a ceremony and celebration May 27 at the Annenberg Community Beach House. The award-winning posters will be on display at the Pico Library through July 4.
The project is one of several spearheaded by Samohi students to “continue to raise awareness about global marine debris, energy and climate change,” officials said..
Science instructor Benjamin Kay encouraged the students to enter the contest, officials said, adding that Kay “engages youth in real-world research through service learning projects and educational outreach activities focused on environmental sustainability.”
Kay also serves as advisor to Team Marine, an award winning environmental science teen action group that “seeks effective solutions to modern-day challenges, such as global plastic pollution, climate and ocean acidification crises,” officials said.
Team Marine members Martin Liu, Kimberly Fuentes and Zoe Parcells received first place at the Los Angeles County Science Fair for a year-long research project that focused on long-term cigarette accumulation rates for seven major streets, officials said.
