U.S. Secretary of Education Names Camden Hills Regional High School
2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School
The U.S. Department of Education announced today that Camden Hills Regional High School is among the 2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees.
Principal Shawn Carlson shared, “One of the things that struck me when I first visited CHRHS while interviewing for the principalship was the obvious commitment of students, staff, and administration to sustainable practices. It was shared with me that it represented a core value of the district and high school. I was immediately attracted to the commitment and to what I believe it says about our community. Since coming on board, I have seen this commitment reflected in decisions the board has made, the staff have made and in the decisions students have made. It is not only reflected in the large visible projects such as the wind turbine and solar panels, but also in the daily decisions students and staff make. Decisions to recycle, to reduce paper usage, to compost the food waste in our school. This community deserves this recognition and the many people that have worked so hard over these years should be proud.”
Senior Eleanor Greer and one of the team leads added, "I am so proud to have gone to a high school that holds so much value for environmental sustainability. Four years has shown me how driven and compassionate Camden Hills is when it comes to bettering our school community and the wonderful planet we all live on. I hope that being recognized as a Green Ribbon School, we can inspire others across Maine - and the whole country - to be greener too!"
Across the country, 39 schools, 11 districts, and five postsecondary institutions are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education.
The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 27 states. The selectees include 28 public schools, including three magnet schools and four charter schools, as well as 11 nonpublic schools. Forty-five percent of the 2020 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body.
Representatives from CHRHS are invited to attend a tentative ceremony in Washington D.C. on August 4, 2020 to celebrate this accomplishment and share their success story.
The list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here. A report with highlights on the 55 honorees can be found here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars can be found here.
What a great recognition on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!
