Bedwell School Wins National 'Green Ribbon' School Award

The Somerset Hills school district's Marion T. Bedwell Elementary School on Tuesday was one of only 64 schools nationwide to be named a Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal officials, according to an announcement from the EPA and school principal Amy Phelan.

That same national award — following a state Green Ribbon Award from the New Jersey Department of Education — last year went to said Nancy Hunter, schools business administrator. Both Bedwell and Bernards are part of the Somerset Hills Regional School District in Bernardsville.

The announcement is scheduled to officially be made at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the pre-K to grade 4 Bedwell School off Seney Drive in Bernardsville. This is only the second year that the nationwide award has been bestowed, according to the joint announcement by federal agencies.

Bedwell is one of only two schools in New Jersey to receive a Green Ribbon from the New Jersey Department of Education, Phelan added.

"The Green Ribbon Award recognizes schools like ours for outstanding environmental practices, such as saving energy, recycling, having a school garden environmental and having a healthy school environment," Phelan said.

Phelan also said the the U.S. Department of Education's announcement on Tuesday that Bedwell is a National Green Ribbon School Award winner also is exciting news.

"This is the highest honor in the nation for schools that are being green and helping to save the environment," Phelan said. "Only 64 schools in the whole country were chosen as National Green Ribbon Schools and Bedwell is one of them."

"Congratulations to the students, staff and parents at Bedwell Elementary School for helping us with this wonderful achievement," Phelan added.

The national Green Ribbon Award schools were honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, 14 districts were honored for the first-ever District Sustainability Award. 

Over half of the 2013 honorees serve a student body more than 40 percent of which is eligible for free and reduced price lunch. The list of all selected schools and districts, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here.  A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found online.

“Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs; improve health, performance and equity; and provide an education geared toward the jobs of the future. In fact, the selected districts are saving millions of dollars as a result of their greening efforts. And the great thing is that the resources these honorees are using are available for free to all schools."

Updated competition criteria will again be published this summer, once again working closely with participating states, collaborating organizations and partner agencies. State education agencies are encouraged to indicate intent to nominate schools in 2014 by August 1, 2013.