Douglas Co. Students Win Costa Rica Trip Through School Essay Contest

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — The essays of 15 middle schoolers recently won them a ticket to Costa Rica, where they will be studying rainforest protection, according to Douglas County school officials.

The students will tour a working pineapple farm, go zip lining and take part in a nighttime wildlife exploration, the Douglas County School System said Friday.

The itinerary centers on Costa Rica's record of protecting land and wildlife, Asst. Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Mitch Springer said.

"This experience will give our students a deeper understanding of how Costa Rica has worked over the past 40 years to protect and expand its rainforests, preserve biodiversity and protect its wildlife," he said. "More importantly, students will see firsthand how environmental conservation, responsible stewardship, agriculture, tourism and community development are interconnected."

The essay winners came from eight middle schools across the district. They are:

• Magnolia Miller and Evelynn Smith of Chapel Hill Middle School
• Miguel Angel Olvera-Rodriguez and Romina Evangelista Moyeda of Chestnut Log Middle School
• Ethan Joyner and Abigail Vallere of Factory Shoals Middle School
• Ericka Schurman and Amirah Harpe of Fairplay Middle School
• Camden Clayton and Gabrielle Andrews of Mason Creek Middle School
• Giovanni Floyd and Trenton Fitch of Stewart Middle School
• Madison Heard of Turner Middle School
• Antoine Reed and Madison Sharp of Yeager Middle School

The trip is being sponsored by the Douglas County Board of Education and the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority. The students will visit Arenal Volcano National Park and the Tirimbina Biological Reserve as part of the program.

"By experiencing another country and learning directly from its people, environment and conservation efforts, our students are developing the knowledge, perspective and global awareness needed to become lifelong learners and productive citizens in a global society," Springer said.

This article was compiled with use of artificial intelligence, and was reviewed and edited by Patch.