June 5, 2015 – Miami, FL – On Wednesday, June 3rd, 41 schools were honored at Dream in Green’s Annual End-of-Year Awards Ceremony. The event celebrated students, teachers and staff representing 115 elementary, middle and high schools who participated in the 2014–2015 Green Schools Challenge (GSC)/Water and Energy Learning and Behavior (WE-LAB) programs.
Throughout the academic year, schools complete a STEM-based curriculum that promotes environmentally sustainable behaviors, including energy and water conservation, waste reduction and recycling. The 1st place GSC award was given to John I. Smith K-8 Center – Middle Learning Center. John F. Kennedy Middle School came in close at 2nd place, and Dante B. Fascell Elementary placed third. Nautilus and Southwood middle schools tied for 1st place in the WE-LAB Schools category, while Air Base K-8 Academy was a close runner-up for the second year in a row.
Other participating schools were recognized for their efforts in monthly activities and creative projects, as well as awards for students, teachers, and facility staff leaders who made a significant impact in their schools. Visit our Facebook page to view photos.
| Green Schools Challenge winners | |
| 1st Place | John I. Smith K-8 Center – Middle Learning Center |
| 2nd Place | John F. Kennedy Middle School |
| 3rd Place | Dante B. Fascell Elementary |
| Best Independent Schools | Miami Country Day – Lower School |
| Best Independent Schools | Palmer Trinity School |
| Finalists | Hialeah Gardens High School |
| Pinecrest Elementary | |
| Ojus Elementary | |
| Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church School | |
| Coconut Palm K-8 Academy | |
| Aventura Waterways K-8 Center | |
| Green Rising Stars | Sunset Park Elementary School |
| Springview Elementary | |
| Cutler Ridge Elementary/Assurant Satellite Learning Center | |
| Miami Central Senior High School | |
| Silver Bluff Elementary School | |
| Hammocks Middle | |
| Pinecrest Academy South Charter School | |
| Green Initiative of the Month | |
| Energy Efficiency & Conservation | Dante B. Fascell Elementary |
| George Washington Carver Middle | |
| Palm Springs Middle (WE-LAB) | |
| Waste Reduction & Recycling | Miami Country Day – Lower School |
| Pinecrest Academy South Charter School | |
| Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary (WE-LAB) | |
| Water Conservation | Ojus Elementary |
| Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High | |
| E.W.F. Stirrup Elementary (WE-LAB) | |
| Alternative Transportation | Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church School |
| Homestead Senior High School | |
| Airbase K-8 Center (WE-LAB) | |
| Green Buildings | Mother of our Redeemer Catholic School |
| Coconut Palm K-8 Academy | |
| Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center (WE-LAB) | |
| Green Careers | Henry S. West Laboratory |
| John F. Kennedy Middle School | |
| Hialeah Gardens Middle School (WE-LAB) | |
| Green Game Changers – Students | Kimberly Overton – American Senior High |
| Sydney Gayarre – Hialeah Gardens High | |
| Gisela Sidell – John I Smith K-8 – Middle Learning Center | |
| Isabel Perlman – Nautilus Middle | |
| Melany Torres – Ojus Elementary | |
| Sheba Maps – M.A.S.T. @ Homestead | |
| Green Key Award – Facility Staff | Raul Calzadilla, Jr. – Airbase K-8 Center |
| Fabian Reina – John I Smith K-8 – Middle Learning Center | |
| Foch Mompremier – Nautilus Middle | |
| Innovation in Education Award – Teachers | Leopoldo Llinas – Palmer Trinity School |
| Carmen Marroquin – Hialeah Gardens High School | |
| Carol Shill – Southwood Middle | |
| Nuris I Binett – John I. Smith K-8 – Middle Learning Center | |
| Ketty Quindemil – Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary | |
| Eco-Summit Award | Palmetto Middle (WE-LAB) |
| Pinecrest Elementary | |
| Hialeah Gardens High School | |
| Palmer Trinity School | |
| Building Student Leaders Through Fundraising | 1st Place – Pinecrest Elementary |
| Runner up – Dante B. Fascell Elementary | |
| Water + Energy – Learning + Behavior (WE-LAB) | |
| 1st Place (tie) | Nautilus Middle |
| Southwood Middle | |
| Runner Up | Airbase K-8 Center |
| Finalists | Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center |
| Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary | |
| E.W.F. Stirrup Elementary | |
| Palmetto Middle School | |
| Green Rising Stars | Hialeah Gardens Middle School |
| Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary | |
| Ethel Koger Beckham Elementary | |
| M.A.S.T. Academy at Homestead | |
| Norman S. Edelcup/Sunny Isles Beach K-8 | |
| Palm Springs Middle School | |
| Robert Morgan Educational Center | |
| West Miami Middle | |
The Green Schools Challenge began in 2006 and has expanded from three to 115 K-12 schools in Miami-Dade and Broward. Since its inception, the program has saved the Miami-Dade County Public Schools District $2.1 million in energy costs, conserved 20.1 million Kilowatt hours of electricity, and offset 30.6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions – the equivalent of taking 1,910 homes off the electricity grid for an entire year.
The ceremony was held at the law offices of Stearns Weaver, the event’s sponsor since 2006.
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About Dream in Green
Dream in Green (DIG) is a Miami-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on promoting energy and water conservation and environmental sustainability in South Florida through innovative educational programs. DIG builds partnerships with schools, local governments, organizations and businesses for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and our reliance on fossil fuels. Its programs emphasize education and behavior change. DIG is best known for its award-winning Green Schools Challenge program, currently in its ninth year and serving 115 schools. All of DIG’s programs emphasize education and behavior change that foster long-term community sustainability.
Media contact: Karla Utting | (786) 574-4909 | ka***@dr**********.org
