Hastings Students Win Environmental Accolades

Hastings-on-Hudson High School students are headed to the New York State Envirothon earning their place as the highest scoring Westchester team in the regional round of the competition for the second year in a row.

“Congratulations to the team from Hastings High School, whose members advance to represent the county in the state finals,” said County Executive Rob Astorino. “I am proud of its achievement as well as the excellent effort of all our Westchester teams.”

HHS students ranked fourth out of 23 other teams from high schools is the Hudson Valley during the regional competition held at the Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill on April 26. The river village’s teams beat out Westchester teams from Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt, John Jay High School in Cross River, Ossining High School, Yorktown High School and two teams from the Tech Center High School in Yorktown.

Students worked through six rotating stations answering questions on wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils and a current issue. They had to make a presentation on a poster they created explaining how to solve the problem of rangeland management.

HHS students will travel to Morrisville on May 30 to compete in the state competition against one team from each New York county. The Westchester County Department of Planning and the county’s Soil and Water Conservation are co-sponsoring Hastings High Schools’ participation in the New York State competition.

“The New York State Envirothon, sponsored by the New York State Soil and Water Conservation District, is designed to test students' knowledge and understanding of natural resource issues within New York State and cultivate students' desire to learn more about our natural resources and environmental issues,” the New York State Envirothon’s website says. “The spirit of competition stimulates students' interests in environmental concerns and motivates them to further develop their skills and grow into environmentally-aware, action-oriented adults.” 

Click here for more information on the competition. 

The school’s environmental studies teacher Melissa Shandroff, who has been with the district for 12 years, leads HHS’ all-female team of juniors.

“I’m really excited for the students,” said Shandroff. “They really worked hard to prepare for it. They were so excited to go in as rookies last year and do well. They really get into it. They are totally competitive about it!” 

This year’s team includes:

• Ariadne Bazigos
• Alexandra Bazigos
• Veronica Erdman
• Miranda Mitchell
• Clara Weinstein

“They are thrilled about being one of the only girls teams,” said Shandroff. “So, girl power!”

Last year’s HHS Envirothon team was recently honored with a Westchester County Earth Day award for placing fifth in the 2012 New York State Envirothon out of 48 other teams.

This year’s team just found out that they are being given the Federation Conservationists of Westchester County's 'Edith Read Award, given to students who manke an impact on the environment, since the HHS' Envirothon team won the competition for Westchester County for the past two years.

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