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For the fourth consecutive year, the Warsaw Community High School Envirothon team represented Indiana on the international stage at the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon.
The event was held at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., and the team earned a 14th-place finish, according to a news release from Warsaw Community Schools.
The competition brought together top Envirothon teams from across the United States and Canada to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in environmental and natural resource management. Representing WCHS were senior team captain Titiksha Gorhe and juniors Alayna Alexander, Jonah Caughell, Kevin Gough and Sean Smith.
Throughout the competition, students were tested in five areas: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife and this year’s current issue, nonpoint-source pollution. In addition to written assessments, students completed hands-on practical challenges that included identifying species, using natural resource tools and analyzing soil and water quality.
Another component of the competition required teams to develop an original 20-minute presentation. Students were given six hours in sequestration to prepare using only the resources provided, without internet access, before presenting their solution to a panel of judges.
“Teamwork is so important to success in this competition, especially at this level,” said coach Emily Gough. “Being able to work together under the intense stress of having just six hours to create a presentation from scratch is something that makes Envirothon different from other competitions. These students have really come together as a team, and I'm immensely proud of what they accomplished!”
Team Indiana finished 14th overall, earning 178 out of 200 points on the oral presentation and recording the eighth-highest score in the current issue category.
“Local experts have been huge in teaching us a lot of practical knowledge, as well as financial support,” said Kevin Gough. “This really helped set our team apart.”
Smith said, “Envirothon has given me so many special memories, meeting people from all over and getting to see cool places.”
For team captain Gorhe, who is now beginning her freshman year at the University of Notre Dame, the impact of Envirothon extends well beyond competition. “Envirothon has been rewarding in numerous ways, one being that it taught us to be aware of our surroundings and acknowledge the impact our actions have on others and our environment,” Gorhe said.
