News & Notes September 2003

Pennsylvania Wins 2003 Canon Envirothon

Pennsylvania's Canon Envirothon representatives, a team of five young men from North East High School located in North East, Erie County, won the 2003 Canon Envirothon international competition held at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Pennsylvania team scored 572.30 points out of a possible total of 700. Members of the champion team are: Doug Fynan, Markus Fish, Jeff Stempka, Billy Rouse, and Nick Barber. Team coaches are John Hallenburg and Jeremy Stempka. Teams representing Pennsylvania have won nine of 16 national/international events since 1988.

The North East High School team from Erie County poses for a photo after winning the 2003 Canon Envirothon international competition held at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Each of the five North East team members received a $3,000 scholarship and products from Canon. The coaches received digital cameras and the team's sponsoring conservation district, Erie County, received a set of Canon binoculars. In addition to winning the overall competition, the team was also recognized for their high scores in the wildlife and current issue stations.

High School students from 41 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces convened July 26-31 in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to participate in North America's largest high school environmental education competition. Participants learned about environmental issues affecting natural resources as they competed for awards in the 2003 Canon Envirothon.

The top ten teams, beginning with second place, include:
2nd - New Hampshire
3rd - North Carolina
4th - Manitoba
5th - Maryland
6th - Ohio
7th - New Jersey
8th - Wisconsin
9th - Illinois
10th - Nova Scotia

Pennsylvania's Envirothon's sponsors, partners, and contributors include: Pennsylvania's sixty-six conservation districts, PA Association of Conservation Districts, State Conservation Commission, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Fish and Boat Commission and PA Game Commission. Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., Nestle Water North America Inc., Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, and PA Department of Environmental Protection grant contributions. The PA Fish & Boat Commission and PA Game Commission provide grant funding to send Pennsylvania's team to the Canon Envirothon competition.

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