As reported in Village14.com, the Newton North High School Envirothon team, which won the state championship in May to represent Massachusetts across the continent, has since won Second Place overall in the North American Envirothon competition in Bozeman, Montana.  Sponsored by Canon U.S.A., the Envirothon is North America’s largest high school environmental education competition.  Congratulations to the team and advisor, and thanks to all who donated to support the team’s travel expenses.

Be sure to read what NNHS science teacher Anndy Dannenberg, the team’s faculty advisor, said of this accomplishment:

I am overjoyed to let you know that the our team, representing Massachusetts at the North American Envirothon competition in Bozeman, finished SECOND PLACE overall!

Kaija Gahm and the team took first in wildlife, and they shared a first place finish in the current issue (rangeland management) field station. Eliana Gevelber and the team took second in forestry, Kavish Gandhi propelled the group to a third in soils, and Ying Gao led the envirogeeks to a fourth in water. Malini Gandhi, team captain, spearheaded the group’s excellent current issue presentation and held the team together all year with her superlative leadership, smarts, and organizational skills.

In addition to their academic prowess, the team was a paragon of sportsmanship, collegiality, collaboration, and friendliness. I was amazed by the good humor they exhibited even in the tensest moments of the week, and the genuine joy they showed for the successes of their competitors.

They were great ambassadors of the Commonwealth, and with their peers from 56 other states and Canadian provinces, gave us in the older generations great hope for the future of our society and our planet.