Chautauqua Lake Students To Receive Commendation

Prior to COVID-19, the Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District hosted an annual Envirothon workshop and competition in Chautauqua County to educate high school students about the importance of conservation.

At the last workshop held on the SUNY Fredonia campus, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, J. Andy Karafa, Ph.D., welcomed students from all over Chautauqua County. After a brief introduction from the Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District field manager, students actively listened to presentations on Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife, and the 2020 Current Issue that were presented by Chautauqua County Envirothon Judges. After each presentation, students had the opportunity to participate in a live question and answer session with each judge and were able to examine a variety of specimens that were related to each of the presentations. A few months later, the decision was made that the 2020 Envirothon field event that was to be held at Mission Meadows on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in Dewittville, New York could not safely take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March of this year, Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District invited local students to participate in the virtual Envirothon event that was coordinated by the state Envirothon Committee. One team from Brocton Central School and that two teams from Chautauqua Lake Central School were interested in registering for the virtual 2021 state Regional Envirothon. Online study guides that were developed by the New York State Envirothon Committee for the primary categories and the current issue were provided to all state Regional Envirothon Competition participants upon registry. Envirothon coaches regularly coordinated with students to attend study groups and the virtual NYS Regional Envirothon Competition on May 5.

Envirothon Coaches Mary Jantzi and Brian Fortney learned that Chautauqua Lake Central School's Team 1 had won the virtual event for Region 1 and would be representing Chautauqua County in the statewide competition on May 25.

The district extended a special congratulations to the Chautauqua Lake Central School Team 1: Amelia Brown, Alex Godfrey, Jackson Janicki, Corrine Kayes, and Hannah Weise for their win and wished Chautauqua Lake Central School District success in the virtual NYS Statewide Envirothon Competition.

The district would also like to congratulate Chautauqua Lake Central School Team 2: Sydney Hawkins, Saige Keefe, Abigal Parker, Sophia Shearer and Jonas Simora for taking 2nd place in the virtual 2021 NYS Regional Envirothon Competition; and wishes to recognize Brocton Central School's Team 1: Christian Barone, Mark Haase, Conner Huels, Conner Utegg, and their Coach Pete Smith for their participation in the virtual 2021 NYS Regional Envirothon Competition.

Chautauqua Lake Central School District Team 1 took eighth place in the virtual competition and finished in second place with their oral presentation. Jantzi noted that during the oral presentation, the students presented a plan to address an issue relating to a plausible scenario that was developed by the New York State Envirothon Committee that pertained to this year's current issue (water resources management: local control and local solutions). The presentation went on for approximately 10 minutes and was followed by a question-and-answer period.

"It is quite remarkable that the students scored that highly on their oral presentation," said district field manager David Spann, who has spearheaded the Envirothon in Chautauqua County in the past.

Chautauqua Lake Central School Team 1 will be receiving a formal commendation during the June Chautauqua County Legislature meeting. Amelia Brown, Alex Godfrey, Jackson Janicki, Corrine Kayes, and Hannah Weise -- along with Fortney and Jantzi -- will all be attending the June 23 meeting virtually.