The Parkway North High School Envirothon team is competing at the State competition today, May 1, after placing 1st overall at the regional level on April 3. They are very hopeful that they will make it to the last round. 

“It’s pretty cool to win an award, and I’m excited to go to state,” said science teacher Brain Kramer, who sponsors the Parkway North Envirothon team. “We’ve finished near the top for a few years in a row now, and it’s always rewarding to see students apply what they’ve learned to real-world environmental issues.”

The team competed against several other school and beat Parkway South by just one point.

“I think it’s essential for students to have opportunities to travel and compete with other schools,”  Kramer said.

This year’s performance was a result of months of preparation, teamwork, and a passion for environmental science. Their dedication has earned them a spot at the state competition, where they will face off against some of the best teams in Missouri. If they win an award again, they will compete at the national level with schools from different states. 

“I’ve always been interested in sustainability and the environment as well as science. You gain a greater understanding of not only science but also nature and how we all can contribute to our environment,” junior Auriana Roy, one member of the team, said. 

For some of the students involved, the Envirothon experience is more than just a competition. Envirothon allows students to test their knowledge in aquatics, forestry, wildlife, and current issues, but it also allows students to learn skills developed through the competition including critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. 

“I decided to do Envirothon because I really like science and because I think it’s very important to consider the environment in the world we live in,” junior Norah Huntebrinker said. 

The team will be required to complete a presentation based on their selected environmental topic. It is a chance for the students to apply what they have learned in and out of the classroom. It’s a way to expand their knowledge of the natural world and how humans interact with the environment. 

Parkway North just has one team. Each team can have up to five individuals. Other students on the team include freshman Ryan Huntebrinker, sophomore Daphne Nuestro, and senior Matt Andrews.

“More people should definitely join the club. You can have multiple teams, so in a way there is no limit,” Huntebrinker said.