VIDEO:Corbin Middle School wins PRIDE ‘Campus of the Year’ Award

Corbin Middle School was given the high honor last Friday of being named PRIDE Middle School Campus of the Year in the West Division. The prize was a trophy and $1,000 to share students’ environmental know-how by growing plants in the school’s greenhouse to transplant throughout the community.

The award was presented at the PRIDE Envi Youth Conference at The Arena in Corbin. Two hundred CMS students were on hand to celebrate the announcement. The school had been informed it was a finalist for the award, but the winner’s identity was a secret until Friday’s event.

"This means everything to us," said Allison Smith, an eighth grader at Corbin Middle School and a member of the school’s PRIDE club. "We worked really hard on this project. I think they chose us because our project was really original."

In addition to their greenhouse endeavors, the club worked diligently last year to stop the use of Styrofoam service trays in the school’s cafeteria. They have been replaced with reusable plastic trays; a move they say ultimately saves money for the school and is more environmentally friendly and efficient.

"I am very proud of them. This was initiated by the students and not the teacher or any other adults doing it," said Melissa Evans, a CMS science instructor who also serves as the PRIDE club’s faculty advisor.

"They had and excellent Power Point presentation and they really followed through with what they wanted to do."
"Students and teachers, you are a source of great pride to your community and our entire region," said PRIDE’s Executive Director Karen Engle. "Your love for learning, the environment and your community are a winning combination. You are on track for great accomplishments. Your recognition here today is just the beginning."

During the awards ceremony, a video showcased the CMS environmental education program. Students learn a variety of hands-on lessons in the outdoor classroom shelter, greenhouse, wetland, and bird and bat habitat. The PRIDE Club’s Styrofoam Busters Project resulted in the school’s cafeteria switching from disposable to re-usable trays and utensils. The PRIDE Club mentors elementary students. CMS students recycle, and they serve their community by testing water quality, volunteering, and promoting local cleanup events.

The video was seen by 2,300 students at the Youth Conference. The high-energy event featured motivational speakers who take personal responsibility for the environment and serving the community. They challenged the students to live up to their potential and make a difference. The event, including lunch, was free, and PRIDE will reimburse schools for transportation costs.

The CMS PRIDE club received a trophy and $1,000 in prize money. Smith and Evans both said the group would have to brainstorm about what could be done with the cash.

"We may use it to fix up our greenhouse. It could use some work," Smith said. "Maybe we could get some plants or trees to help make our school prettier and less city-like."

Evans said having a PRIDE club at a school that is located in the heart of a city presents challenges, at times.

"We are very jealous of all these county schools that have acres and acres to develop. It forces us to be selective with our projects," Evans said. "We do what we can. I think environmental education is lacking because a lot of teacher won’t teach it since it is not in our core content. Really the only way to get it into schools is through projects like this."

The annual PRIDE Campus of the Year Awards honor elementary, middle and high schools for environmental education programs that incorporate hands-on learning, are tied to state curriculum guidelines, and show creativity and community involvement.

PRIDE is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental cleanup and education efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. The PRIDE web site is www.kypride.org