Local K–12 students will present environmental impact grant projects on May 23, 2024
Edinburg, TX, May 20, 2024—Educational nonprofit EcoRise is hosting the Inaugural South Texas Student Innovation Showcase on May 23, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in partnership with Region One Education Service Center. The community and media are invited to celebrate and learn from local youth leaders implementing sustainability projects at schools across the Mission Consolidated and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School Districts this school year. RSVP for the event at SouthTexasShowcase.eventbrite.com.
The showcase will feature twelve impressive student teams from seven schools that received a grant from the EcoRise Student Innovation Fund. Each student group completed a school Eco-Audit in one or more areas of sustainability (e.g., water, waste, energy, food) and designed a project to address an issue identified during the audit. The student-designed projects either reduce the school’s environmental footprint or create public awareness around environmental issues in the community. Join us to discover this year’s grant projects, including growing food for school communities, creating outdoor learning spaces, recycling initiatives, and more.
“Region One students are capable of changing the world,” said Dr. Daniel P. King, Executive Director of Region One Education Service Center. “It is thanks to the educational community, and partners such as EcoRise, that students are enabled to become problem solvers and advocates as they grow and interact with the world around them.”
“South Texas students are passionate about improving their communities and bring unique perspectives and unmatched imagination to solving local sustainability and climate challenges,” said Jon Stott, Co-Executive Director of EcoRise. “EcoRise is proud to support the work of these young changemakers and is excited to provide the opportunity for the community to connect with, learn from, and celebrate them on May 23rd.”
EcoRise has awarded more than $16,000 in micro-grants to South Texas students this school year, with more grant applications still being completed thanks to support from H-E-B and Transcend. You can learn more about the showcase at SouthTexasShowcase.eventbrite.com and about EcoRise programs at ecorise.org.
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About Resion One Education Service Center
Region One Education Service Center (www.esc1.net) serves over 422,000 students and educators in eight South Texas counties. Region One assists school systems with enhancing student performance, operating efficiently and implementing legislative initiatives assigned by the legislature or the Commissioner of Education.
About EcoRise
EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. The national non-profit organization offers a range of curricula and programs for students, teachers, school districts, and partners designed to advance environmental literacy, sustainable schools, and equitable access to green career pathways. EcoRise currently supports more than 7,300 teachers in helping over 409,000 students solve real-world sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, food, and public spaces. To learn more about EcoRise, visit www.ecorise.org.
Media Contacts
Laura Fuller, EcoRise
Laura@ecorise.org
Arianna Vazquez-Hernandez, Region One Education Service Center
Arihernandez@esc1.net
