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EPA Graduates Middle School Class - Summer program teaches kids environmental lessons, leadership

Release Date: 8/19/1999
Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

PHILADELPHIA -- For the past six weeks, 22 eighth-grade students traveled to work in center city Philadelphia at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where the job seemed more like summer school than the typical office labor. Under a unique summer program at EPA, the students learned important lessons about the environment and gained skills in public speaking and leadership.

Today, during graduation ceremonies to honor their achievement, the students demonstrated their environmental awareness to family members and EPA workers. The graduation program was held at EPA’s Office Building, 1650 Arch Street.

More than 100 students have graduated from EPA’s Student Environmental Development Program since its inception six years ago. The summer program teaches kids about the health effects of environmental hazards like lead poisoning, radon and poor air quality, and ways to protect themselves and their families.

“Besides our main purpose of increasing the students’ environmental awareness, we want to expose them to other aspects of the workforce such as cultural diversity and teamwork,” said Larry Brown, EPA’s environmental education coordinator. He said through field trips, team-building exercises, and group projects, the students have learned to respect each other and have gained more self-confidence.


(See the attachment for a list of the students and their school.)

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Attachment for News Release: EPA Graduates Middle School Class


1999 STUDENT ENVIORNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS


JAMES TURNER NORRIS S. BARRATT MIDDLE SCHOOL
MARY GBAYA WARREN G. HARDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
ANTONIO STEPHENS WARREN G. HARDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
RYAN EMERY JOHN WANAMAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL
GINA RUSSELL JOHN WANAMAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL
NATIVIDAD PAGAN JOHN WANAMAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL
DANIELLE WALKER ANDREW HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
ROBERT MITCHELL ANDREW HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
LACEY ADAMS WILLIAM M. MEREDITH SCHOOL
SULAIMAN ALI WILLIAM M. MEREDITH SCHOOL
MABEL LEE HOLY REDEEMER
MICHAEL TRAN GENERAL GEORGE A. MCCALL SCHOOL
CATHERINE TURCICH-KEALEY GENERAL GEORGE A. MCCALL SCHOOL
JOHNATHAN STEPHENS GENERAL GEORGE A. MCCALL SCHOOL
DAVID CASTILLO ROBERTO CLEMENTE MIDDLE SCHOOL
KHOA VIET NGUYEN OUR LADY OF HOPE
SHARDAY RATTEREE OUR LADY OF HOPE
KENNETH ANDERSON OUR LADY OF HOPE
BRENT WILEY ROBERTS VAUX MIDDLE SCHOOL
CHARISMA EVANS ROBERTS VAUX MIDDLE SCHOOL
EDWARD BATZIG ALEXANDER ADAIRE SCHOOL
SHANITA MAYO ALEXANDER ADAIRE SCHOOL