Three Students Awarded Scholarships for Environmental Ideas

Three Elk Grove high schoolers with ideas on bettering the local environment were honored at Wednesday night's Elk Grove City Council meeting.

The students each received $1,000 scholarships from Allied Waste.

Brendon Hillier, a senior bound for Biola University, proposed ways to get young people more interested in recycling, like introducing programs to elementary school students and developing recycling cans that make a sound when recyclables are deposited.

senior Stephanie Kinser, who will attend UC Berkeley in the fall, said Elk Grove residents should be better educated on water pollution and the fact that storm drains lead directly to waterways. She also argued that homeowners associations should allow more Elk Grove residents to replace their lawns with drought-resistant plants.

Kristen Williams, a senior headed for the University of Oregon, said the city's traffic lights should be re-timed to reduce the amount of time cars spend idling at red lights.

Each student received an award from Allied Waste General Manager Keith Hester and Elk Grove Integrated Waste Intern Melissa Aristizabal.

Elk Grove, what do you think of these ideas? Would they help improve the local environment? Let us know in the comments section below.