$2,500 Winners
Charleston Collegiate School, Charleston County
“Bat Habitat Restoration and Enhancement”
Tenth grade students will construct and install bat houses in the school’s Outdoor Education Center and plant flowers that attract pollinators. They will also learn how bats support healthy ecosystems by helping control insect populations.
Clay Hill Elementary School, Dorchester County
“Healthy Eagles”
This hydroponics project will teach students about water conservation, sustainable gardening, and energy efficiency. Students will adjust nutrients and lighting to achieve maximum growth, and they will analyze the data to understand the effectiveness of this gardening method.
Fennell Elementary Magnet School, Hampton County
“Fostering Fennell's Future”
The school’s courtyard will be transformed into an outdoor classroom focused on creating habitat for native plants and animals. Students will install flowers, bat and bird houses, and a smart bird feeder with a camera for up close observation.
Guinyard Butler Middle School, Barnwell County
“Veggie Tales”
By creating a raised garden bed, special education students will learn how to grow and harvest their own vegetables. Connecting with nature will also help them learn self-confidence, experience stress relief, and develop healthy lifestyles.
PACE Academy, Richland County
“Gardening Indoors and Out”
Middle school students will create an indoor hydroponics garden and an outdoor pollinator garden. They will also work with Clemson Extension to learn how to manage flooding in the parking lot caused by excess storm water.
Pendleton High School; Anderson County
“Container Berry Project”
Students will learn about water conservation and energy efficiency by using a micro drip irrigation system to grow blackberries and blueberries. They will also monitor and adjust nutrients to maximize fruit yield.
South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville County
“Native Plant Restoration and Embankment Stabilization Initiative”
This student-led project will involve the removal of invasive plant species on school campus and the planting of native species to stabilize the streambanks of the Reedy River. Educational signage will also be installed, and a Master Gardener will give a campus wide talk.
The Montessori School of Columbia, Richland County
“Cultivating Education and Sustainability”
This Green Step School will use a hydroponic gardening system to teach students about soil and water conservation. Students will mix nutrient solutions, adjust water levels, and clean the system between plantings.
$1,500 Winners
Andrew Jackson Academy, Bamberg County
“For the Love of Pollinators”
This project will educate first graders about the importance of pollinators. Students will plant and care for flowers, install a bird bath and solar powered fountain, and create a walking path with educational signage.
C.E. Williams North Middle School, Charleston County
“Green Wolverine”
Sixth grade students will plant and maintain a garden that incorporates sustainable gardening practices such as drip irrigation and organic fertilization. They will also learn how gardens can help mitigate rainwater runoff and soil erosion.
Doby's Mill Elementary School, Kershaw County
“Water We Growing?”
Twenty fifth graders will become “Hydro-Horticulturists” as they create and maintain a hydroponic gardening system. The Champions award will fund the purchase of a large indoor farmstand from the Lettuce Grow Company.
Riverwalk Academy, York County
“Growing Minds, Growing Greens”
This hydroponic gardening project will teach students about water conservation, energy efficiency, and sustainable food production. They will adjust nutrients, track plant growth, and document and analyze data from experiments.
$1,265 Winner
Newberry High School, Newberry County
“Vermicomposting”
Students at this Green Step School will partner with Newberry County Soil and Water Conservation District to learn how worms convert food waste into beneficial compost. They will also create educational signage to teach the community about the importance of composting.