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$25,000 in ERCA Community Contribution Scholarships
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Tracey Nawrocki from Pittston Area High School, Yatesville, PA
Tracey took a class project in chemistry and over the course of three years turned it into an environmental action organization dedicated to ending pollution of and acid mine drainage into the Susquehanna River watershed. After co-founding a high school River Club to study the problem of river pollution, Tracey brought together resources from throughout the community- town officials, a university professor working with the U.S. Geological Survey, a local archeological firm, and local environmentalists to speak to the club and help it find ways to protect and clean Susquehanna River. She took the initiative to recruit younger students to the project and trained them to continue the work she began. The Club published a pamphlet of data and information it has collected and is hoping to use this information to increase public awareness of watershed pollution and acid mine drainage.
Tracey will attend The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania
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Brynn Marie Henkel from Sentinel High School in Missoula, Montana
Brynn founded a non-profit organization, Paint-Up Montana, that paints the homes of low-income families at no cost to the home owners. The work is done by volunteers, usually high school students. In order to paint the first 25 houses in western Montana, Brynn wrote a grant proposal and secured money from the Washington Foundation. In the two years that Paint Up Montana has been in existence, volunteers have painted 52 houses in six Montana cities. Brynn continues to serve on the board of directors of Paint Up Montana, and hopes her project will soon be national.
Brynn will attend the University of San Francisco in San Francisco, California.
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Jameka Shaneek Pankey from Purnell Swett High School, Pembroke, North Carolina
Jameka created a recreational cheerleading squad, the Maxton Eagles, for girls in her city of Maxton, North Carolina. The girls ranged in age from 7 to 13. For the last two years, Jameka coached the team in a local park three times a week, created fundraisers to pay for uniforms and activities, and found opportunities for the team to compete and perform. The mayor of Maxton credits Jameka with creating a program for youth in the community that builds self-esteem and having helped the girls on the cheerleading squad to "achieve higher grades, positive attitudes and remain in school every day."
Jameka will attend North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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Leigh Shaw from Fairhope High School, Fairhope, Alabama
Leigh used her artistic talents to create a coloring book for young children. The book has original pictures, activities and word puzzles. She secured funding for the printing of the book and found local merchants who donated crayons and supplies. With the help of school clubs, Leigh bound and distributed the book to a local home for battered and abused mothers and children. This project, the Penelope House Project, has grown over four years to reach nine different community organizations and benefit 500 children. Now that she has graduated from high school, Leigh plans to continue her involvement by supervising the project, which will be implemented through Fairhope High School committees.
Leigh will attend the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.
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View Current Winners: 2007
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