Brunswick Soil and Water Conservation District has awards banquet

 On May 10, the Brunswick Soil and Water Conservation District had its annual awards banquet recognizing educators, students and supporters of the district’s conservation education program. 

Tic Toc the Clown provided the evening’s entertainment. District supervisor chairman Gene Ward presented the awards.

“The Living Soil” was the theme for the district’s annual poster, essay and public speaking contests. 

Awards were presented to the following students and teachers: county poster winner, third grade, was Alyssa Creech of Bolivia Elementary (teacher—Amy Nelson); county poster winner, fifth grade, was Grayson Stone of Virginia Williamson School (teacher—Alice Garner); county poster winner, sixth grade, was Alexis Apple, home schooled (teacher—Trisha Apple); and county speech winner, eighth grade, was McKala Hanes of James C. School (teacher—Joene Helms), third grade school poster winners were Amelia Apple, home schooled (teacher—Trisha Apple);—Jada Farrow, Waccamaw Elementary (teacher Leslie Raynor); and sixth grade school poster winner was Harley King of Shallotte Middle (teacher—Joseph Benton).

Educational resource materials on next year’s theme, “Water the Cycle of Life” were on display throughout the evening and made available through Brunswick Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Two teams were recognized for participation in the 2010 Coastal and State Envirothon. 

During the past school year, students conducted an in-depth study of soils, aquatics, forest, current environmental issues and wildlife. 

The team recognized for middle school was “Ninja Firefly Monkeys”—Kirsten Bohr, McKala Hanes, and Paden LeDoux. This team finished first at the Coastal Envirothon where 20 teams competed. 

The high school team recognized was “Destinasia”—Tyler Bohr, Rachel Conley, Bryan Simmons, Justin Simmons, Peyton Winstead. This team finished second at the Coastal Envirothon in the Area VI division. 

At the state Envirothon, this team finished third in oral presentations. Brunswick County has been successful with the Envirothon program because of the dedication of its advisors and students. Both teams recognized were from the James C. School and had as their advisor Joene Helms. 

Additional recognition for work with the Envirothon was presented to Miller Caison, from the Forestry Service, for his assistance in team training; and John Rores for his support and participation with the Envirothon teams. 

Bryan Simmons received an award for his participation in the 2009 N.C. Resource Conservation Workshop at North Carolina State University. The workshop is a week of intensive study requiring student attention and participation in a wide range of conservation topics. The primary objective of this workshop is learning about natural resources and their management in today’s environment. 

Applications are presently being taking at the Brunswick Soil and Water Conservation District office for this year’s representative(s) to the NCSU Resource Conservation Workshop scheduled for June 20-25. 

Brunswick County Farm Bureau was recognized as a long-time supporter of the Brunswick Soil and Water Conservation District programs, and especially for its partnership with the district in enhancing conservation educational programs. 

Farm Bureau representatives present to receive the award were Chip Carroll, Milton Coleman, Wayne Benton and Gene Ward.

The 2010 Conservation Teacher of the Year Award went to Bolivia Elementary third-grade teacher, April Trull, for her teaching excellence and stewardship activities with the Brunswick Soil and Water Conservation District’s educational programs this past year. 

She is a National Board Certified Teacher and a previous Teacher of the Year for Brunswick County.