This month we recognize brothers Devin and Roldan Kramer from Ardmore, PA, for receiving the 2016 President’s Environmental Youth Award for grade levels K-5 in EPA Region 3 for their work to save frogs and toads. The national award is presented each year to exceptional students who demonstrate creativity, innovation, and leadership to address difficult environmental challenges. The brothers’ interest in the topic was sparked by discussions about the number of mosquitos in their area, and the decline of predators like bats, frogs and toads, which feed on mosquitos. The brothers learned that each April, the swimming pool at their local park drains the water and ends up killing tadpoles living in the pool before they can mature. To increase the population of native frogs and toads, Devin and Roldan took approximately 2,000 tadpoles from the pool in April and raised them to the frog and toad stage in an aquarium system and collected fruit flies from a compost bin to feed them. Over the course of their project, the brothers observed their aquarium closely, protected the tadpoles from predators, and transferred the tadpoles to a larger aquarium as they grew legs. As a result of their project, Devin and Roldan have observed not only an increase in frog and toad populations, but improvement in the overall ecosystem, with a decrease in the number of mosquitoes, and a growing number of native animals, such as snakes, fish, and birds.

Congratulations, Devin and Roldan - you clearly are PAESTARs!

This month we recognize two Pennsylvania schools/districts honored by the U.S. Department of Education for being selected as Green Ribbon Schools. They include Coebourn Elementary School in the Penn-Delco School District and the School District of Philadelphia. Congratulations! Information regarding the Green Ribbon Schools in Pennsylvania is available online.

Congratulations, Coebourn Elementary and Philadelphia School District - you clearly are a PAESTAR!

This month we recognize the Penn State Brandywine Vairo Library for their support of national Earth science celebrations. This fall, the library staff created a display with books and an iPad with TED videos during Earth Science Week in October. In November, the library had a similar display table for Geography Awareness Week and even issued a formal proclamation to celebrate GAW. We are pleased to see the Vairo Library call attention to their Earth science resources and encouragement for their visitors to learn more.

Congratulations, Penn State Brandywine Vairo Library - you clearly are a PAESTAR!

This month we recognize Nicole Fuhrman of Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pennsylvania, for being the District IV winner of the 2016 NSTA/Shell Science Lab Challenge. Because most of Nicole's students did not learn science concepts in primary school years, they lack the knowledge to understand more abstract, complex concepts in high school. Hands-on activities make these abstract concepts concrete and give students confidence to delve deeper into the content. Because Erie City School District has budget challenges, the school's lab facilities are incomplete and have very few technology resources. However, Nicole has improved student learning by using simple materials in creative ways to have students understand concepts such as the formation of igneous rocks. The opportunity to work with real scientific tools adds authenticity to classroom experiences and legitimacy to students' work, which is why NSTA/Shell has recognized Nicole for her creativity and innovation.

Congratulations, Nicole - you clearly are a PAESTAR!