Lacombe Composite High School was chosen as one of the Top 10 schools in the world for environmental action by a global education enrichment organization.
Beekeeping, aquaponics, gardening and solar projects are just some of the ecological things Lacombe Composite High School students have been learning about through hands-on education.
The school was named one of the world’s best for teaching about environmental action, out of tens of thousands of schools, by the global organization T4 Education, which aims to provide engaging tools and initiatives for teachers.
The No. 1 school will be announced in October and awarded a $250,000 prize.
“This is a tremendous honor to be in the Top 10, and we are humbled to be selected out of the countless schools across the planet,” said Steven Schultz, EcoVision teacher at Lacombe Composite High School.
“If we were to win… we would use the funds to invest in student-led environmental initiatives and create scholarships that would allow students to earn their qualifications through workshops, courses and other programs,” Schultz added.
T4 Education looked for schools that prioritize helping students take action to protect their future and avoid a climate crisis. Lacombe Composite High School was chosen because of its EcoVision Club and other programs and initiatives.
As part of the Top 10, the school in the Wolf Creek School Division is in the running for the top award, which carries with it a grant that would help further the efforts of EcoVision, and allow for outreach to help other schools to develop similar programs.
“We are exceedingly proud of the efforts of Mr. Schultz and his many students who have committed to the improvement and preservation of the local and broader environment,” said Tim De Ruyck, the division’s superintendent.
“Through the EcoVision Club and its programs, Lacombe Comp. has been community and world leaders for more than a decade, and this latest recognition is further testament to those efforts,” he added.
The honour was marked by a noon-hour celebration at the school on Friday that included EcoVision students, staff and dignitaries.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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