Clark County presents green award trophies created by Washougal High School students

The annual Clark County Green Awards celebrate the accomplishments and commitment of individuals and organizations who work to reduce harmful environmental impacts, educate others and give back to the community.

This year, Clark County Green Schools presented the award winners with unique trophies crafted by students at Washougal High School. These trophies were made entirely from recycled materials in the school's welding and wood shop. Clark County is excited to celebrate the creativity of local students and elevate recycled art through this awards program.

Illahee Elementary

Illahee Elementary was awarded the 2023 Green Team of the Year Award in the elementary school category. The Illahee Elementary School green team includes student members in third through fifth grades, as well as the school custodian and parent volunteers. Students on the green team are responsible for caring for the school's outdoor learning spaces, reducing waste around school, and educating other students on the importance of sustainability. The school's outdoor classroom is one of the largest projects completed by the green team.

The 2023 award was presented to the green team students at an awards assembly scheduled during the last week of school. This award presentation celebrated the accomplishments of the green team and honored the hard work of Illahee Elementary's staff, teachers and custodians who promote sustainability education in their school!

The award trophy was crafted by Washougal High School students, Layne Livengood. Using material found in the woodshop's scrap bin, the trophy was created entirely out of recycled scrap materials. 

Washington State School for the Blind

The Washington State School for the Blind was awarded the Green Team of the Year award in the mixed grade level category. The Green Beings, the school's green team, launched last year with 11 members. The team started using redworms to compost food waste and coffee grounds from the school's coffee shop. They also work with Clark County Green Schools and Waste Connections to set up accessible recycling locations throughout the school. They also adopted a city block and participate in regular litter clean-up efforts.

The award was presented to the Green Beings at a celebratory school assembly during the last week of school. The assembly included a special video recorded by Governor Jay Inslee congratulating the school for their efforts to promote sustainable changes and environmental education.

The award trophy was created by Washougal High School student, Lucas Sanders, out of discarded small engine parts from the school's auto shop. 

La Center High School 

La Center High School's green team, or Environmental Action Team, is leading a districtwide sustainability project to collect food scraps for compost at all La Center schools. The students manage a large natural school garden, complete stream monitoring projects, raise salmon hatchlings in the classroom, lead habitat restoration projects and coordinate events that celebrate school sustainability. The Environmental Action Team is also working to construct a green shed on campus that will be equipped with rain barrels, native plants and solar panels.

The award was presented to the Environmental Action Team during a La Center School board meeting in June. The student members of the team were recognized by school board officials and La Center High School staff for their commitment to school-wide waste reduction and environmental education.

The trophy was crafted by Washougal High School student, Joseph Laymen. Joseph cut the tree silhouettes from a piece of scrap sheet metal and the trophy base is a piece of driftwood found on Cottonwood Beach in Washougal. 

Mark Watrin

Mark Watrin is a retired science educator and current member of the Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors. In retirement, Watrin volunteers to build outdoor learning spaces, construct school gardens and lead habitat restoration projects in Battle Ground Public Schools and Vancouver Public Schools. Some of his projects have included a native habitat garden at Laurin Middle School and raised garden boxes at Minnehaha Elementary School.

The award was presented to Mark during a Battle Ground School Board meeting in June. Members of the Board, district staff, teachers, students and community members recognized Mark's dedication to environmental education and sustainability advocacy in Battle Ground schools.

The trophy was crafted by Washougal High School students, Max Shiluk and Gage Levitt. This trophy is the result of a creative partnership - these students upcycled wood scraps found in the discard bin in Washougal High School's wood shop. They glued together pieces of walnut, cherry and white oak wood to create a useable piece of material that could be cut and shaped into the unique trophy. 

We hope that you join Clark County Green Schools in celebrating the accomplishments of the 2023 Green Award winners!