Royals take Green Kent Student Challenge

For the Reporter

Kent-Meridian High School students won an extremely close contest this fall, with the most total volunteers – 57 – participating in Green Kent community events and work parties since the school year began.

The fall Green Kent Student Challenge competition was anybody’s game right up to the culminating event. Kentridge easily won the first challenge in the spring and once again put out another valiant effort. This time, they came in third, with 45 student volunteers.

Kentlake, with the smallest population of the four main city high schools and the farthest from Kent event sites, took second, with 54 volunteers. Rounding out the challenge was Kentwood, with 37, and Kent-Phoenix Academy, with three.

The winning school was announced on Green Kent Day, Oct. 24, by Parks Director Jeff Watling and Joanna Nelson de Flores from Forterra, a founding partner of the Green Kent Partnership. City Councilmember Brenda Fincher awarded Green Kent bandannas to the Kent-Meridian students present during lunch. The event was held this year at the Green River Natural Resources Area and drew 148 volunteers, including eight stewards.

The top student volunteer was Kentwood’s Nhu-Y Ly, who participated in eight events, contributing 22 hours. She has since taken initial training to become a Green Kent support steward, as has the top volunteer from the spring student challenge, Kentridge’s Brielle Canares.

The Green Kent Partnership is now in its fifth year of restoration field work at natural areas citywide. More than nine acres were actively stewarded this year and the total acreage in some phase of restoration is now 581.

For more information, contact Victoria Andrews at vandrews@kentwa.gov or visit GreenKent.org.